I Don't Measure Up...Either

Luke 23:32-47

 SUBJECT: SALVATION/ FORGIVENESS

THEME: The two thieves crucified with the Lord Jesus represent the truth that all of humanity does not measure up to God’s requirements. When considered together, the thieves are guilty of not only serious crimes against society but also egregious sins against a holy God! Again, one thief was guilty of sin and died in his sin; the other was also guilty but died forgiven by God.

INTRODUCTION:

Is everything relative or…are there really absolute standards of morality? Can we state without contradiction that situational ethics are viable standards of virtue? Does the end justify the means? This is moral relativity. By definition moral relativity is “the absence of standards of absolute and universal application.” Basically, moral relativism is the view that moral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint (for instance, that of a culture or a historical period) and that no standpoint is uniquely privileged over all others (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy). This accounts for the differences in moral judgments across different people, cultures, nations, and periods. This philosophy is widely accepted though many people state it differently. Like you I have heard people say, “What’s right for you may not be right for me…and vice versa.” While this view is popular, I find that I cannot accept it.

One problem with this view is how to resolve contradictory views of right and wrong between individuals, families, cities, or countries. Who is to say Hitler’s Holocaust was wrong when Germany felt their actions were justified? Who can condemn Chairman Mao Zedong for the deaths of an estimated 65 million Chinese people during the Great Leap Forward—class based genocidal campaign to establish socialism (Lee Edwards, Ph.D.). Who decides what right is and what wrong is? This is the incredible problem with moral relativism…there is no real standard of morality and individuals and countries can justify nearly any atrocity as long as they view it as right or justified for them. Does might make right? Does the view of the majority make the view right? One review of American and world history demonstrates this can be disastrous. No, we need an absolute standard of morality applicable to all peoples, all times, and all cultures.  

In Luke 23, JESUS CHRIST, the Son of God, is being crucified with two malefactors on either side of him. Our Lord is on the middle cross signifying that he is the greatest offender of the law. Actually, he is totally innocent of any crime or sin, but He died the cruelest death of the vilest criminals to secure salvation for you and me. God does indeed forgive sinners because of Christ’s work on our behalf, but we must turn to Him to receive God’s forgiveness. Receiving divine forgiveness requires admitting guilt, failure and owning our definite violations of God’s absolute standard of right and wrong. That is correct, God does believe in an absolute standards of righteousness and it is applicable to all people, all times, and all cultures--The Ten Commandments. Remember, Jesus appealed to God as forgiving, “Father, forgive them.” Though we all our guilty, there is hope.

LESSON:

Recall in the article “The Two Thieves of Calvary,” we saw the thieves were guilty of violating Roman Law, and we began exploring how they had also broken God’s holy Law. They were facing the death penalty at Calvary because of these violations, and they were staring into the eyes of Hell because they remained unforgiven by God.

THE TWO THIEVES HAD ALSO BROKEN GOD’S HOLY LAWS

Isaiah 53:12, says, Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah details the very nature of the violations committed by these thieves. They had not only broken Roman Law, but they are also TRANSGRESSORS of God’s Holy Law! Violating societies laws is a gravely serious matter, but offenses against a righteous and holy God eternally jeopardizes the soul.

        1. “Transgression” is a Violation of an Established Standard. It means to go beyond or to exceed the limits; to step beyond or across. Essentially, it is behaving as a criminal—breaking with the norms...defiance. These men have violated God’s righteous character and just laws—their lives are marked by violations. You see, God’s absolute standards enable us to understand what a violation is. It defines right and wrong for all peoples and times. The Lord has zero appreciation for arbitrary rubber rulers for measuring morality based on the ever-changing moorings of society. With God judgment is based on a clearly defined universal standard that reflects His character and nature. God has even written these standards on the human conscious (Rom. 1:18-23; 2:12-16); honest people immediately acknowledge God’s fundamental Law as viable. We must also become willing to admit our need for God's forgiveness.  

        2.  In Order to Be Saved We Must Realize That We Have Lived Beyond God’s Limitations. We must come to the awareness that we need God’s guidance and governance. In fact, life beyond His limitations is not only immediately dangerous but eternally hazardous. We cannot come to God to be saved by Him until we first realize that we have an incredible need for His forgiveness and salvation. No patient will accept chemotherapy treatments without first being convinced of their cancerous condition. Further, who will submit to a leg amputation medical procedure while remaining convinced that all they need is a band aid for their small toe?

The following observations will help us conclude that we desperately need God’s forgiveness because we have violated His holy, righteous and just laws. Subject yourself to the following examination from God’s holy Law. Please take seriously the following confessions....

               a. We Have Made Ourselves, Pleasure, Money, and Things Our Idols.

Deut. 5:6-8, I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. [7] Thou shalt have none other gods before me. [8] Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:

God forbids idolatry of all forms (Rom. 1:19-32; 1Jn. 5:21). The question is have we put other things before the Lord God? The worship of self, pleasure, money, and material possessions is raging like a wide fire in our culture. Everything and almost anything is regarded, respected, and honored above the God of the Bible. Sports figures, Hollywood stars, TV personalities, recording artists, political officials, and accomplished business figures are routinely referred to as icons, idols, demigods, gods, and heroes. Certainly, they are talented and even gifted, but still extremely human...only people! Yet, young people and adults alike view these individuals as bigger than life. Money is perhaps the greatest 'god' in our materialistic culture; every one seems to have a price.... People have a price at which they will ditch their morals to do nearly anything and everything to seize more wealth. I do mean they will do ANYTHING.... Why? Money is their god.

Furthermore, any view, perspective or opinion about God is acceptable in the public square except God’s view. He has revealed himself in the Scriptures and only his perspective is authoritative. The rest is pure conjecture. To put our ideas of God above the Bible’s revelation of God is extremely hubris at best and pagan idolatry at the worst. To perceive or imagine God with qualities and characteristics that are not supported by the Scriptures is erecting a false idol in our imaginations. This is just as reckless as building a statue and praying to it or worshiping it as divine. God is not pleased with false conceptions or portrayals of Himself. Just as we are offended when people say things or believe ideas about us that are not true, God has zero appreciation for misconception regarding His person, nature, character, ways, and activities. He is not the 'man upstairs,' cosmic killjoy,' or adorable grandfather who will never send anybody to Hell. He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures and he insists on our recognizing him for who he is! Beloved, Bible ignorance is not a condition we can afford. Such practices are deliberate transgressions of God’s Laws that forbid destructive idolatry. Understand, without a correct view of God, we cannot know where we came from, why we are here, how we should live, and where we are going. Yes, the truth about God directly impacts our understanding of our origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. 

               b. We Have Taken and Misused God’s Name in Vain.  

Deut. 5:11, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

We are not to take, carry, bear, or raise up the Name of God to justify engaging in worthless purposes and empty pursuits—we are forbidden to do evil in God’s Name or as His representatives while advancing sinful practices (1Sam. 2:12-17, 22-25; 3:11-14). The question is are we taking God's Name in vain? Such violations misrepresent a holy God and provoke people to reject and despise the things of God. Claiming our actions in the Name of the Lord is a serious matter; how much more so if the claim is false, uncharacteristic of God, sinful, or a violation of God’s standards? 

Yet, some 'religious' institutions have historically endeavored to 'sell' salvation for money, and sell out the truth for pragmatic 'results.' Many justify their meanness, harshness, rude demeanor, hatred, and verbosity on 'standing for the truth.' They grossly misrepresent the God of the Bible while over-emphasizing only one facet of The Faith. Some groups only emphasize God's love and blessings because this attracts crowds, but these crowds are primarily interested in their own narcissistic dreams and goals. They are set on using God to achieve their ends. People will sometimes say that God and them have a mutual understanding...they insist they do not need Jesus or forgiveness because God understands them. Some justify their obviously sinful attitudes/actions while clinging to some notion that God does not regard their behavior as sin. Their perspective of God's holiness, perfection, and righteous nature is incredibly skewed! This is more than merely using God’s Name rather indiscriminately in conversation, but instead this is justifying evil by God’s Name—authority, reputation, character, glory and purpose. Such perspectives and behaviors are gross violations and transgressions of God’s Law. We must be extremely careful not to falsely attribute wrong notions and actions to God. The reality is we routinely take God's Name in vain while justifying or advancing evil--while associating Him with our sinful attitudes/aspirations/actions.

               c. We Have Not Consistently and Fully Honored Our Parents. 

Deut. 5:16, Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

God also established honoring parents as a national law for Israel. This imperative stipulates genuine respect—valuing one’s parents highly and is applicable to all of us as children (Eph. 6:1-4). There is even the sense of regarding the office of parents as weighty, heavy, glorious and venerable. The question is are we honoring/respecting our parents? While all human beings deserve some respect because we all possess the image of God, parents are worthy of higher and more significant reverence. They are also God’s esteemed representatives to their children…especially us fathers. Decidedly prizing parents is the foundation of obedience to them and care for them when they can no longer live independently. A longer life and a better quality of life are the rewards of esteeming our parents in this manner. Our obligation is to obey our parents while under their care in their home and to honor them throughout their lives.

Today many young people disrespect their parents by routinely speaking of them in the most derogatory terms. Back talk, cussing, barking and sassing routinely marks exchanges between parents and their children. Young people have not cultivated an attitude of obedience and submission to their mother’s and father’s authority. Even the courts and states seem to have incredible difficulty with parental authority. Parents often feel so guilty about their parenting failures that they bomb the training of their children in these important matters as well. It should not be shocking to see pervasive gross disrespect in society…towards the elderly…towards authorities…towards police officers…towards elected officials…towards just laws of the land… towards the unborn…towards one’s person. It has become normal in our culture for the parents to respect and obey the children while the children become increasingly self-indulgent and obstinate. Too many mothers and fathers sub-contract their familial responsibilities to the day care, public schools, and youth groups at church. Often the career and personal interests are used to abrogate or negate natural family roles.

God prescribed that parents be honored as they execute the fundamental duties of this esteemed office. He endowed parents with such weight and gravity because they function as the very pillars of society and its healthy perpetuity. As the family goes, so goes the nation! We need a revival in this area because we have significantly depreciated the incredible role of parenting in our society. I know the descriptions above do not account for all families in our land; praise God for devoted mothers and fathers who raise heritage unto the glory of God. Parents who lead their children to Christ and disciple their hearts to follow the Lord. Mom’s who pray with the heart of Christ with the young ones, and Dads who use the Word to train their children to know God and walk with Him daily. Parents who model righteousness, faith, love, integrity, authenticity, hope and Holy Spirit power. This we can use more of as a nation.

              d. We Have Not Treated Everyone with the Greatest Love and Respect.

Deut. 5:17-21, Thou shalt not kill. [18] Neither shalt thou commit adultery. [19] Neither shalt thou steal. [20] Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. [21] Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

These five prohibitions are against murder, adultery, theft, lying, and coveting. These are serious requirements, and we have violated every single one of them repeatedly during the course of any single month of life! Shocking isn’t it? No doubt, many will respond to this claim with loud denials and self-justifying statements. I would have you reflect on the teachings (Matt. 5-7) of our Lord Jesus where he clearly indicated that hatred and anger in the heart is murder, lusting after women or men is adultery in the heart, stealing and stinginess as opposed to giving generously, needing oaths to support our statements is indicative of habitually lying, and trying to keep up with the Jones is rank lust-ridden ungodly discontentment.

If we stated these prohibitions in a positive way as Jesus did, we would say love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:34-40). This is exactly what the Apostle Paul prescribed for churches and ministry relationships within the church body (Romans 13:8-10). He said the same thing in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. When we love as God loves we will not murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet. But our love is so often purely human, conditional, full of reservations, utilitarian, emotional, shallow, skeptical, manipulative, and temporary. However, the “LOVE OF GOD” has been “shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (see Romans 5:5, 6). It is possible to exercise God’s love towards others. His love is unconditional, everlasting, giving, merciful, discerning, hope-filled, abiding, sacrificial, and pursuant of the highest good! Honestly, we have not treated everyone with the greatest love and respect like God has. Are not these accusations true of us? Beloved, we have habitually violated God’s standards of righteousness…we have routinely transgressed His laws…we stand guilty and in need of God’s pardon and forgiveness. We are so much like these two thieves on either side of our Lord’s cross.  

LIKE THE THIEVES, WE ALL HAVE TRANSGRESSED GOD’S LAW

Luke 23:32, And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

The two thieves illustrate the universal guilt of humanity before a perfectly holy God (Rom. 3:9-20; 5:12; Gen. 3). Like these men we stand accused before a righteous God-Judge who understands our every thought, motive, intention, and action. We deserve eternal condemnation for our crimes against His heavenly Majesty. Is there any hope of forgiveness and salvation?

        1. The Person Who Wants to Be Saved Must Acknowledge His/Her Sinfulness.

1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

While these passages where written directly to Believers, they have wonderful application to us sinners craving God’s forgiveness and pardon. God’s forgiving nature is illustrated repeatedly in the Scriptures and such revelation encourages us to turn to Him in sincere attrition and brokenness over our sinful behavior and condition.

The prodigal son freely confessed his sin to his father and as a result he received forgiveness and restoration. Read the account of Luke 15:14-24, where it says,

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. [15] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. [16] And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. [17] And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, [19] And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. [20] And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. [21] And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. [22] But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: [23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

  

God welcomes the wandering soul back to Himself. He forgives us when we honestly acknowledge our sinfulness against Him. He cleanses and grants us a new beginning!

Consider also the account of the publican who willingly acknowledged his sinfulness before God and sought his mercy. Note what Luke 18:9-14, says,

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: [10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

God will justify the sinner who turns to Him in faith and repentance. Why not humble yourself before the Lord even now asking for His forgiveness?

A businessman brought a thirty-year-old man to a summer Bible conference who was paralyzed from his hips down. As he sat beside the soul-winner on a bench under the trees, he expressed his desire to be saved. He said, "I believe everything in the Bible," but it gave him no peace. The Christian then inquired of him whether he knew he was lost, to which he replied he did. The inquiry was then made as to whether he knew that Christ is the One who saves and the only One who can save. He replied also to this that he believed it. Just at this point a public bus drew up in front of the conference grounds and the Christian said to his lame friend, "that bus is intended to carry everybody into the city, is it not?" "Yes," he replied. "Does it carry everyone?" he asked. "No," he said, "only those who get into the bus." He had hardly made this statement when the light of God broke into his soul. "I see!" he said. "Christ came to save everybody, but He saves only those who take Him: The light of heaven flooded his soul. The peace of God filled his heart. His face became radiant with joy. He had entered into the Lord Jesus by faith.  –Those Christ Saves, Source Unknown    

     2. Every Person that Ever Lived Has Been Impacted by Sin– We All are Sinners.

Isaiah 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

So, you see we all are sinners—transgressors of God’s law and under the divine death penalty. We are guilty and desperately need God’s forgiveness. Do you sense your need for God’s forgiveness for your life of sin? Remember, confession is acknowledging God's standards of morality and the truth that we have not lived up to his requirements. It is admitting, "I don't measure up...either." 

     3.  The Results and Consequences of a Life of Sin is Death. 

Ezek 18:4, Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

If you spend your life serving Master Sin, then you can expect to receive the wages of Master Sin. The wages of Sin are the death penalty!

              a.   Physical Death—Rom. 5:12,14

              b.   Spiritual Death—Eph. 2:1; 4:18

              c.   Eternal Death—Rev. 20:15

The evidence that we all have sinned is the fact that we die physically. Physical death is also indicative of pervasive spiritual separation from God as a human condition. Eternal death is nothing short of suffering forever in the Lake of Fire--Hell. When making a decision it is best to have all the necessary information. I have give you all you need to know to understand your guilt before a holy God. I know how this must feel. I do NOT measure up either...I am not good enough for God to accept me without accepting his forgiveness. God promises to save all who will acknowledge their sins to Him while trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior. Remember sin is defined as violations of God's Laws. We have put idols before the true and living God. We are guilty of taking God's Name in vain. We have not honored our parents fully and always. We have not treated people with real love and respect exclusively. We do not measure up to the perfection of God's standard of morality. We NEED His forgiveness...He offers us forgiveness not condemnation. With this being the case...condemnation is something you chose by refusing Christ.

Just like these two thieves at Calvary we are all guilty of transgressing God’s Law. We all have gone beyond the limitations established by God in the Bible and as a result we must now receive the proper punishment for our awful crimes of sin. We are all facing the death penalty, just like these two thieves. The only hope is God’s forgiveness made available to each of us through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Beloved, it was Jesus who died for our sins, was buried because he actually did die and satisfied the death penalty against sin. He also rose again the third day exactly as he repeatedly stated he would. Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ conquered death, hell, sin, and Satan through his cross and resurrection. He is alive to save you if you turn to him confessing your sins and receiving his sacrifice for you (Rom. 10:8-17). Trust the living Lord Jesus as Savior to be forgiven as God promised. 

Yes, the two thieves at Calvary aptly represent you and me as guilty of breaking God’s holy Law. We all are transgressors.... Honestly, we do not measure up...I don't measure up either. God uses his Law--an absolute standard of morality to help us understand that we do not measure up. He is not motivated to condemn, but to help us see our incredible need for His forgiveness. Thank God there is forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior. Do not put your trust in a church, a membership, a denominational affiliation, a ritual or ceremony, a work of service, your self, or a religious creed. These methods will only fail…. You need Jesus, the Savior.