From Skepticism to Salvation: The Thief's Transformation

 

Summary

In reflecting on the story of the thief on the cross, we encounter a profound narrative of transformation and trust. The thief, initially a skeptic, embodies the disillusionment many feel towards religion and moralism, especially when faced with oppressive circumstances. Living under the harsh Roman regime, he likely questioned the value of faith and morality, seeing little change in his dire situation. This skepticism is evident as both thieves initially hurl abuse at Jesus, reflecting their hardened hearts and cynicism.

However, a remarkable transformation occurs during the thief's final hours on the cross. As he faces the imminence of eternity, he becomes acutely aware of his own sinfulness and the reality of standing before a holy God. In this moment of desperation, he observes something extraordinary in Jesus—His impeccable character and the power He possesses. The thief acknowledges Jesus' innocence, recognizing that Jesus has done nothing wrong, and he perceives Jesus as a king, capable of offering him hope beyond the grave.

This encounter with Jesus shifts the thief's perspective from skepticism to trust. He moves from a place of doubt to one of faith, asking Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom. This request signifies a profound belief in Jesus' power to save and His authority as a king. The thief's story is a testament to the transformative power of encountering Jesus, who is trustworthy and capable of changing lives even in the most desperate circumstances.

Key Takeaways:

- Disillusionment with Religion: The thief's initial skepticism reflects a common disillusionment with religion and moralism, especially when faced with oppressive systems. This skepticism can harden hearts, but it also sets the stage for a deeper encounter with Jesus. [00:34]

- Awareness of Eternity: Facing death, the thief becomes aware of his own sinfulness and the reality of eternity. This awareness prompts a shift from skepticism to a desperate need for salvation, highlighting the importance of recognizing our own mortality and need for grace. [01:18]

- Recognition of Jesus' Character: The thief's transformation begins with recognizing Jesus' innocence and impeccable character. This recognition is crucial in moving from doubt to trust, as it reveals the true nature of Jesus as one who is worthy of faith. [01:34]

- Belief in Jesus' Power: The thief's request for Jesus to remember him signifies a belief in Jesus' power to save and His authority as a king. This belief is a pivotal moment of faith, demonstrating the transformative power of trusting in Jesus' sovereignty. [01:48]

- Trust in Desperation: In his desperation, the thief finds someone he can trust in Jesus. This trust changes his life, illustrating that even in our most desperate moments, Jesus is a reliable source of hope and salvation. [02:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:21] - Addressing Skepticism
- [00:34] - Disillusionment with Religion
- [00:49] - Oppressive Circumstances
- [01:03] - Initial Cynicism
- [01:18] - Awareness of Eternity
- [01:34] - Recognition of Jesus' Character
- [01:48] - Belief in Jesus' Power
- [02:02] - Trust in Desperation
- [02:17] - Invitation to Learn More

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 23:39-43
- Romans 10:9-10
- Ephesians 2:8-9

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the initial attitude of the thief on the cross towards Jesus, and how did it reflect his skepticism? ([01:03])

2. How did the thief's perception of Jesus change during his time on the cross? What specific qualities of Jesus did he recognize? ([01:34])

3. What request did the thief make to Jesus, and what does this reveal about his belief in Jesus' power and authority? ([01:48])

4. How does the thief's story illustrate a shift from skepticism to trust in Jesus? ([02:02])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What might have caused the thief's initial skepticism towards religion and moralism, and how is this skepticism common in today's world? ([00:34])

2. How does the thief's awareness of his own sinfulness and the reality of eternity influence his transformation? What does this suggest about the role of self-awareness in faith? ([01:18])

3. In what ways does recognizing Jesus' character and innocence play a crucial role in moving from doubt to trust? ([01:34])

4. How does the thief's belief in Jesus' power to save demonstrate the transformative power of faith, even in desperate circumstances? ([01:48])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt disillusioned with religion or moralism. How did that experience affect your faith journey, and what helped you move past it? ([00:34])

2. How can an awareness of your own mortality and need for grace influence your relationship with God? What steps can you take to cultivate this awareness in your daily life? ([01:18])

3. Think about a person in your life who exemplifies the character of Jesus. How does their example inspire you to trust in Jesus more fully? ([01:34])

4. In moments of desperation, where do you typically turn for hope and salvation? How can you intentionally choose to trust in Jesus during these times? ([02:02])

5. The thief's story shows that transformation can happen even in the most desperate circumstances. How can you remain open to transformation in your own life, regardless of your current situation? ([02:02])

6. Consider the thief's request for Jesus to remember him. What is one specific area of your life where you need to ask Jesus for help or guidance? ([01:48])

7. How can you share the story of the thief on the cross with someone who is skeptical about faith? What aspects of the story might resonate with them? ([02:17])

Devotional

Day 1: Disillusionment as a Catalyst for Encounter
In times of oppression and hardship, skepticism towards religion and moralism can arise, as seen in the thief's initial disillusionment. This skepticism, while hardening hearts, can also prepare individuals for a deeper encounter with Jesus. The thief's journey from skepticism to faith illustrates how disillusionment can be a catalyst for transformation when one is open to recognizing the presence of Jesus in their life. [00:34]

Jeremiah 29:13-14 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel disillusioned or skeptical? How might these feelings be preparing you for a deeper encounter with Jesus?


Day 2: Awareness of Mortality and Need for Grace
Facing the reality of death, the thief becomes aware of his own sinfulness and the need for salvation. This awareness prompts a shift from skepticism to a desperate need for grace, highlighting the importance of recognizing our mortality and the need for divine intervention. The thief's story encourages us to confront our own mortality and seek the grace that only Jesus can provide. [01:18]

Psalm 90:12 (ESV): "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Reflection: How does the awareness of your own mortality influence your daily decisions and priorities? What steps can you take today to seek God's grace more earnestly?


Day 3: Recognizing the True Nature of Jesus
The thief's transformation begins with recognizing Jesus' innocence and impeccable character. This recognition is crucial in moving from doubt to trust, as it reveals the true nature of Jesus as one who is worthy of faith. By acknowledging Jesus' character, we open ourselves to the possibility of transformation and a deeper relationship with Him. [01:34]

Isaiah 53:9 (ESV): "And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth."

Reflection: What aspects of Jesus' character do you find most compelling? How can recognizing these qualities deepen your trust in Him today?


Day 4: Belief in Jesus' Sovereign Power
The thief's request for Jesus to remember him signifies a belief in Jesus' power to save and His authority as a king. This belief is a pivotal moment of faith, demonstrating the transformative power of trusting in Jesus' sovereignty. By placing our faith in Jesus' power, we can experience profound transformation and hope. [01:48]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust in Jesus' sovereign power? How can you actively demonstrate this trust in your daily actions?


Day 5: Trusting Jesus in Desperation
In his desperation, the thief finds someone he can trust in Jesus. This trust changes his life, illustrating that even in our most desperate moments, Jesus is a reliable source of hope and salvation. The thief's story encourages us to place our trust in Jesus, especially when we feel most desperate and in need of hope. [02:02]

Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: When have you felt most desperate in your life? How can you turn to Jesus in those moments and trust Him to be your source of hope and salvation?

Quotes

"I'm here with Pastor Colin Smith author of the new book Heaven how I got here the story of the thief on the cross and Colin in this book The Thief is presented as a skeptic what would you say to the person who's skeptical of Jesus today I think a lot of uh people are skeptical because they're disappointed and I certainly picture the thief in that kind of way I I see him as someone who would have been disappointed in religion you know what's religion done for me what's moralism done for me he's living under a brutal and an oppressive and a corrupt regime in uh the Roman rule that was over his his Nation nothing much is happening to change that here are these people everyone's out to get you well that produces a kind of hardness a cynicism a skepticism for sure um and then when he's on the cross uh he does not think well of Jesus because at one stage both of the thieves the one either side of Jesus the Bible tells us they were both hurdling abuse at Jesus and yet something changed during these hours on the cross for this one Thief uh an awareness that he was going to go into the presence of God eternity's coming near to him and he clearly was impressed with Jesus he was impressed with his character because he says to the other Thief we're getting what we deserve but this man has done nothing wrong so he saw something in the character of Jesus and then he saw something about the power of Jesus um because he refers to him as a king will you remember me when you come into your kingdom so he he comes to believe that Jesus can do something for him and that he really is actually quite desperate he's not in a position to be skeptical he's going to stand as a sinner in front of a holy God so here's this skeptic and he actually finds someone he can trust and that's the great thing in the story here is Jesus the person who you can trust and there's reason to trust him and that proves to be the thing that changes his life we can read more about that change and his trust in Jesus in heaven how I got here you can uh get a copy of the book by coming to the website unlockingthebible.org" [00:12:20]

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Transcript
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