FBC Gridley

We all want a clean conscience. We all want this sense of forgiveness for the past. We all want to be ready to meet God.

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Luke 23 records a story of a man who desperately needed forgiveness.

When Jesus was crucified, there was executed beside Him a thief who knew what it was to feel guilty.

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We don't know how many times this man stole, or from whom, or how much, or why. We do know that he was teetering now between life and death, between heaven and hell. And from Matthew’s Gospel
(Matthew 27:44), we also know that he initially joined the crowd in mocking Jesus. That passage says that both of the thieves joined in the jeering.

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The question is this: What happened to change this thief's heart? Why did he begin the day sneering at Jesus and a few hours later submit to Jesus as the source of forgiveness and hope?

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I see four significant facts about this man that resulted in his forgiveness. And these same four qualities still make that offer of forgiveness available to us today.

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Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:42-43