Text : Luke 23:33 and 39-43
 
Introduction.

The two criminals:

• They are at the same distance from Jesus.
• They saw everything that happened in the last 6 hours, hanging on the cross.
• Both men suffer a lot. They go through the worst kind of death.
• They'd had the same lifestyle.
• Both of them do need forgiveness.
  

-Applications:

1)Under similar circumstances, one becomes a believer, the other doesn't.
Under similar circumstances, two people listen to the same sermon.One believes, the other doesn't.
2)Believing in the gospel is a wide opportunity.
It depends on each person's will.
Since everything is already prepared.( God- Jesus-Church) What about you?Have you accepted yet?

A) Proofs of repentance.

- Luke 23:40 . One criminal reproaches the other.
- Luke 23:41 . The criminal admits his sin.
- Luke 23:41. The criminal declares Jesus' innocence.
- Luke 23:42. The criminal has faith in the Lord.
- Luke 23: 42 . The criminal prays a humble prayer: "remember me, please" 
 
B) One criminal wishes a limited salvation.

- Luke 23:39 " save yourself and us"- Luke 23:35 . The authorities also think about this kind of salvation.
-Luke 23: 37 .The soldiers also think about this kind of salvation.
Application : Most of us wish a limited salvation. A small one. To this moment only.

(To live more years.More money.Health. A marriage. A green card. A job.)

C)The other criminal wishes an eternal salvation.

-He expresses his wish for Heaven.
-It's the salvation described in Revelation 14:13
Salvation without mediators.
"Paradise": When a Persian king wanted to honor someone in special, he would invite this person for a walk in the gardens of his palace.This is the idea in the text.
Jesus is saying: "Come, today we are going to walk together in the gardens of my palace."

Conclusion.

-What do we receive from Jesus? Propitiation, according to Romans 3:24, 25
" On the cross Christ placed himself in the front, "getting the deadly shot of sin" in our place." 
 "God's wrath , that was coming in our direction, changed its way and hit Jesus.
 -Some people think: " I'll become a believer in the last minute of my life."
As if they could control time. They may die while they're sleeping.....
 - A great lesson about God's grace. With feet and hands tied , without being able to do anything.

Luke 23:34 : Father, forgive them"

"Go to the Calvary to learn how to be forgiven. Stay longer in the Calvary to learn how to forgive." (Spurgeon)
 " Stay longer" : The idea of living with Jesus.
- Today: There are people who need to go to the Calvary, and they'll find out how to be forgiven.

Others need to stay longer before the Calvary, to learn how to forgive.