2019 we have recently

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THREES IN SCRIPTURE

7/28/2019 SERIES 4

In this series of threes we have recently been looking at the three crosses at Calvary. "Today we continue our study. I. THE THREE REPRESENTATIVE CROSSES ARE AGAIN SEEN. A. The greatest of the three crosses is the center cross of Redemption

B. The two remaining crosses are; 1. The cross of reception 2. The cross of rejection

II. THE CROSS OF REJECTION IS SEEN. A. Each thief had equal opportunity to be saved;

1. The unrepentant criminal was as near the cross as the repentant criminal.

2. He could have received the same assurance of pardon as the first. 3. Had he cried for mercy like the first criminal he could have been saved. B. Two major areas of darkness is seen;

1. The darkness of Calvary itself—Mt 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 2. The darkness of the human heart;

a. The only impediment to salvation is the impenitent heart.

b. The second thief died as he lived with a callous heart-- Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? C. Those whom Jesus can and cannot save; 1. Those whom He can save;

a. The unholy

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b. The unfit c. The unclean

d. This thief like the saved thief was all of the above and could have been saved.

e. Christ never asks a man about the extent of his sin because He is willing to accept all who will call upon Him for Salvation. 2. Those whom He cannot save;

a. The unwilling.

b. Jesus has never forced Himself upon anyone! 3. Holman Hunt painted a beautiful picture of Christ standing before a door knocking; a. Hunt asked a friend to critique his painting.

b. The friend noticed that the door did not have a door knob. c. Hunt's friend called this supposed oversight to his attention.

d. Hunt's response was that it was not a mistake because the door knob is on the inside of the door and the occupant must choose to open the door if he desires Christ to enter. III. THE CROSS OF REDEMPTION IS STILL THE GREAT DIVIDE.

A. The cross sets forth two destinies in eternity.

1. A thief on one side of the cross goes to paradise. 2. A thief on the other side of the cross goes to perdition. B. Here is a picture of how the cross of Christ divides the world. 1. Those who repent and believe on one side.

2. Those who scorn and disbelieve on the other side. C The results of the preaching of the Cross is set forth;

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1. To some it is the power of God unto salvation-- ICo 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 2. To others the cross is foolishness-- ICo 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. D. What the lost world still desires when they see the cross;

1. They desire a cross without the blood

a. They call the cross a gory religion.

b. They teach we are saved by His life and not His Death. c. In Egypt the people of Israel were not saved by the life of the lamb but by its death. 2. The world talks about the ethical Christ. 3. The world talks about the social Christ.

4. The world talks about Christ as the Great Teacher. 5. The world talks about the Christ as the Great Exemplar. 6. The world joins the lost thief on the cross desiring a Christ without a cross—"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, if thou be Christ, save thyself and us." (Luke 23:39)

E. Contrary to popular belief the Cross is still the only message of Salvation;

1. ICo 1:17-- For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 2. ICo 1:18- For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 3. Ga 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

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4. Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 5. Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

IV. The thief died with sin's remedy at hand; A. It was impossible for Christ to be any nearer to either of the thieves than He was. B. Likewise today in America Christ is as near as confession with our mouth salvation-- Ro 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

C. No one in America can plead ignorance of salvation; 1. We live in a land of Bibles.

2. We live in a land of Churches.

3. We live in a land of much Christian media.

4. We live in a land of Christian publications. 5. We live in a land of Christian influence. D. We live in a land where the Holy Spirit is drawing people to Christ-- John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: E. Between two thieves Jesus was lifted up as He previously stated-John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

1. Jesus was drawing both thieves to Himself.

2. The lost thief could have transferred to the cross of reception. 3. There is no sin so black and disastrous as callous rejection, and no end so dark and hopeless as that of deliberately refusing Jesus as the only Savior.

4. The three crosses are still asking the world to choose after 2000 years.