1) Paradise and the Thief on the Cross (Kyle Pope)
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Paradise and the Thief on the Cross<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kyle Pope The Bible tells us that at first both of these men mocked Jesus (Matt. 27:44; Mark 15:32). Luke, however, records that at some point one of the men had a change of heart. As the other continued to mock Jesus (Luke 23:39), this man rebuked him, saying \u201cDo you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 23:40). After acknowledging that they deserved their condemnation (Luke 23:41a), this criminal declared of Jesus, \u201cthis Man has done nothing wrong\u201d <\/strong>(Luke 23:41b).<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are not told why he said that. Did he know what Jesus had said and done during His ministry? Had he followed Jesus at some point, only to stumble into theft or insurrection? Or, was this the first time he had encountered Jesus, but saw from all that was happening around him that this was no ordinary Man? The Holy Spirit has not answered these questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever the source of this man\u2019s knowledge about Jesus, the Holy Spirit has preserved for us a very important request he made to Jesus. He begged Him, \u201cLord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 23:42). What a striking request! These men were both about to die. What kingdom could either expect to experience? Did this man realize what the modern religious world has missed, that Jesus\u2019 kingdom would not be an earthly, political dominion, but a spiritual realm made up of those in submission to Him as King (cf. John 18:36; Luke 17:21)? That seems unlikely\u2014Jesus\u2019 own disciples did not yet understand that (see Acts 1:6). Did he believe that Jesus would rise from the dead, and at that time establish an earthly kingdom? That seems to have been the expectation of Jesus\u2019 apostles. After His resurrection they asked, \u201cWill You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?\u201d<\/strong> (Acts 1:6). If so, how would that have helped the thief? Did he hope that Jesus would resurrect him too? On the other hand, was he speaking of a kingdom in the afterlife to which he assumed they would both go upon their death? Once again, the Holy Spirit has not given us the answers to these questions, only the fact that this man saw in Jesus One who would be a King<\/em> who would at some point \u201ccome into\u201d<\/strong> His own kingdom.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n What we are told is Jesus\u2019 answer to the man\u2019s request. He told him, \u201cAssuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 23:43). How are we to understand Jesus\u2019 words? Where (or what) is this \u201cParadise\u201d<\/strong> to which Jesus refers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The word \u201cParadise\u201d<\/strong> is a transliteration of the Greek word paradeisos<\/em> (\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac\u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03bf\u03c2<\/em>) referring literally to an enclosed preserve, grove, park, or hunting ground. The New Testament uses this word only three times. The first is in our text in Luke 23:43. The last comes in a short letter in the book of Revelation directed to the church in Ephesus. After giving this church both praise and rebuke (Rev. 2:1-6), the letter ends with this charge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God<\/strong> (Rev. 2:7).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This connection with the \u201ctree of life\u201d<\/strong> is interesting. This was what was said to stand in Eden before the sin of Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:9). It was accessible to the man and woman before their sin, but they were cast out of the garden in order to prevent them from having access to it, lest they should\u2013\u201ctake also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever\u201d<\/strong> (Gen. 3:22). The Greek Old Testament translated before the time of Christ used the word paradeisos<\/em> 13 times in Genesis in reference to Eden (Gen. 2:8, 9, 10, 15, 16; 3:1, 2, 3, 8 [twice], 10, 23, 24). At the close of the book of Revelation when description was given of the dwelling place of those saved by the blood of Jesus after final judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) and the destruction of the present heaven and earth (Rev. 21:1), twice we are told that the \u201ctree of life\u201d<\/strong> will be accessible to God\u2019s people once again. In this place it does not stand as a lone tree, but grows on either side of the \u201criver of life\u201d<\/strong> yielding its fruit constantly (Rev. 22:2). Jesus declared, \u201cBlessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city\u201d<\/strong> (Rev. 22:14). This would suggest that the \u201cParadise of God\u201d<\/strong> promised to the church in Ephesus refers to the place of final reward where the children of God enjoy eternal life. Was this what Jesus meant when He spoke to the thief or are there other ways the word is used?<\/p>\n\n\n\n A second instance is found in Paul\u2019s second letter to the church in Corinth. As Paul called upon the brethren to recognize the futile nature of boasting in fleshly accomplishments (2 Cor. 11:16-33), he then moved to speak \u201cof such a one\u201d<\/strong> of whom he said \u201cI will boast\u201d<\/strong> (2 Cor. 12:5). He calls him \u201ca man in Christ\u201d<\/strong> whom he claimed to have known \u201cfourteen years ago\u201d<\/strong> (2 Cor. 12:2), but it\u2019s evident from the text that this is a humble way of speaking about himself. He describes this man as receiving \u201cvisions and revelations\u201d <\/strong>(2 Cor. 12:1), but then goes on to describe his own \u201cthorn in the flesh\u201d<\/strong> which was given to him \u201clest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations\u201d<\/strong> (2 Cor. 12:7). Paul is talking about what he was allowed to see. Paul acknowledges twice that God had not revealed to him whether this had been a bodily transportation or an out of body experience (2 Cor. 12:2-3), but says this \u201cman in Christ\u201d<\/strong> was \u201ccaught up to the third heaven\u201d<\/strong> (2 Cor. 12:2). The Jews conceived of three distinct realms of heaven\u2014The first where the birds and the clouds are, the second where the stars, sun, and moon are, and the third, where God is. Paul uses a parallel term to describe this same place declaring of the same man, \u201che was caught up into Paradise\u201d<\/strong> (2 Cor. 12:4a). In this remarkable experience, Paul was allowed to see (as brother Melvin Curry puts it) the very \u201cabode of God\u201d (Truth Commentary on Second Corinthians<\/em> Bowling Green, KY: Guardian of Truth Foundation, 2008. p. 409). Was this what Jesus meant when He spoke to the thief on the cross, or is there yet another way of understanding Jesus\u2019 words?<\/p>\n\n\n\n To answer this we must consider two things: 1) What does the New Testament teach about where Jesus went upon His death? and 2) Is there anything in the wording of Jesus\u2019 promise that helps us narrow its meaning?<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and they declared Jesus as the resurrected Messiah, Peter appealed to Psalm 16 as a prophecy of the Messiah\u2019s resurrection. He quotes verse 10 to say, \u201cFor You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption\u201d <\/strong>(Acts 2:27). Peter then explained that this prophetically pointed to Jesus (Acts 2:29-32). Declaring that David, \u201cspoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades\u201d<\/strong> (Acts 2:31). So where did Jesus go when He died? To \u201cHades\u201d <\/strong>the place of all departed souls prior to judgment. Is this the \u201cParadise\u201d<\/strong> to which Jesus refers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n On one occasion Jesus told an account of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus and events that happened after their deaths (Luke 16:19-31). People often call this a \u201cparable,\u201d but it is never identified that way in Scripture. Like Acts 2 it describes all who die (prior to judgment) going to \u201cHades\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 16:23). Yet, while final sentencing and judgment has not happened to them yet, we are told that there is a separation of the righteous and the wicked. Lazarus went to the region of Hades called \u201cAbraham\u2019s bosom\u201d <\/strong>(Luke 16:22) where he was \u201ccomforted\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 16:25). The rich man went to a region \u201cin Hades\u201d <\/strong>called simply \u201ctorments\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 16:23). As Jesus describes it between these two areas is a \u201cgreat gulf\u201d<\/strong> preventing souls from going from one region to the other (Luke 16:26). Since Jesus is said in Scripture to have gone into \u201cHades\u201d <\/strong>upon His death (Acts 2:31) is it reasonable to conclude that the \u201cParadise\u201d<\/strong> where Jesus promised the thief \u201cyou will be with Me\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 23:43) is the same region of Hades described as \u201cAbraham\u2019s bosom\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 16:22).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Someone might ask, how do we know that Jesus wasn\u2019t talking about \u201cParadise\u201d<\/strong> in either of the ways Paul or the book of Revelation used the term? Let\u2019s notice Jesus\u2019 wording. He said, \u201cAssuredly, I say to you, TODAY you will be with Me in Paradise\u201d <\/strong>(Luke 23:43, emphasis mine). We noticed in the example in Revelation 2:7 the connection with \u201cthe tree of life\u201d<\/strong> and saw that this describes a condition after final judgment (cf. Rev. 20:11-15; 22:14). We should note something that is said to happen before<\/em> final judgment. In order for the dead to appear before the \u201cgreat white throne\u201d<\/strong> of judgment (Rev. 20:11), we are told: …Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death<\/strong> (Rev. 20:13b-14).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n It is only after this that the \u201cnew heaven and new earth\u201d<\/strong> are said to appear (Rev. 21:1) and \u201cthe tabernacle of God\u201d<\/strong> now is said to be \u201cwith men, and He will dwell with them\u201d<\/strong> (Rev. 21:3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cParadise\u201d<\/strong> of Revelation 2:7 is a place of eternal life with God after judgment. The \u201cParadise\u201d<\/strong> of 2 Corinthians 12:4 is the present \u201cabode of God\u201d\u2014something Paul was allowed to see, but no one can enjoy until after judgment (cf. Rev. 21:3). Since Jesus is clearly declared in Scripture to have gone into\u201cHades\u201d<\/strong> upon His death (Acts 2:27, 31)\u2014yet, \u201cDeath and Hades\u201d<\/strong> must be cast into the \u201clake of fire\u201d<\/strong> before final judgment\u2014if Jesus promised the thief \u201ctoday you will be with Me in Paradise\u201d <\/strong>He must have been using this term to refer to the region of Hades also called \u201cAbraham\u2019s bosom\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 16:22). We may see from this that \u201cParadise\u201d<\/strong> should not be understood as the formal proper name of a single place or condition, but as a way of describing a wondrous place of beauty, joy, comfort, and peace\u2014whether that be in the realm of the saved prior to judgment, the present \u201cabode of God,\u201d or the final place where God\u2019s people will dwell with Him eternally after judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ______________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n * McClister, David. \u201cAnd With Him Two Other Men\u201d Focus Online<\/em> April 12, 2016 [online] http:\/\/focusmagazine.org\/and-with-him-two-other-men.php.<\/p>\n\n\n\n — Via Faithful Sayings,<\/em> Volume 18, Issue 21 (May 22, 2016)<\/p>\n\n\n\n ——————– <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).——————– Contents: 1) Paradise and the Thief on the Cross (Kyle Pope)——————– -1- Paradise and the Thief on the Cross Kyle Pope […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3111"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3116,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3111\/revisions\/3116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
When Jesus was crucified, Scripture records that His cross was positioned between two others (Matt. 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:33; John 19:18). Luke tells us the men on these crosses were \u201ccriminals\u201d <\/strong>(Luke 23:33), using a word that literally means ones doing evil.<\/em> Matthew and Mark call them \u201cthieves\u201d<\/strong> (KJV) or \u201crobbers\u201d <\/strong>(ASV, NASB, NKJV, ESV). Brother David McClister, in his recent article \u201cAnd With Him Two Other Men\u201d points out that the word Matthew and Mark use could also mean, \u201cinsurrectionists\u201d or \u201crebels.\u201d* Whether their crime was rebellion against Rome or simply theft, one of these men acknowledged, \u201cwe receive the due reward of our deeds\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 23:41a, NKJV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cParadise\u201d in the New Testament<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Jesus\u2019 Death and Jesus\u2019 Wording<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe <\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent <\/strong>of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith <\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized<\/strong> in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by <\/strong>living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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