Week 2 – Jeff Maness – March 10, 2019
So many people, both Christian and non-Christian alike, want to know where we go when we die? When will we go there? How do I get to Heaven? On the cross, Jesus actually reveals some incredible truth about Heaven in just a few short words when he said, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
Seven: Heaven
Big Question: What should I know about Heaven?
Main Scripture: Luke 23:35-43
Luke 23:35-43 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
1. Today = It begins immediately.
2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-8 1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home (Heaven) with the Lord.
Luke 23:43 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
2. You = It belongs to anybody.
John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father (get to Heaven) except through me.
John 3:16 16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Luke 23:39-42 39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” (rejection) 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God (belief) even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes (repentance & confession), but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” At that moment the dying thief had a clearer faith in Christ’s resurrection than any of His disciples had. Their hopes were crumbling as they watched Him hanging, unresisting and gradually dying. But this man looked beyond their death, and believed that, after it, He would come to reign. We may call him the only true disciple that Christ had in that moment. – McClaren Commentary
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Luke 23:43 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
3. Me = The best part is Jesus.
Revelation 21:3 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
Mark 14:22-25 22 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”
Revelation 19:7-9 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
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