Our Lord was born for the transgressors (Matthew 1:21), lived for the transgressors (Matthew 20:28), and died for the transgressors (Romans 5:18).
The two thieves represent the believer and unbeliever, with Christ in the middle as the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), but also as the barrier between God and man (John 14:6). The two thieves represent the fallen human race, who are all guilty before God (Romans 3:23; John 3:15) — one believed, one did not.
The first man that God created become a thief — Adam took what God said not to take, therefore Adam was a thief and disobedient. On the cross the Lord said “… today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus was identified with the man in condemnation, and the thief was identified with Christ in salvation.
The Lord had fellowship with a new believer in the final hours of His life. The believer (thief) now has eternal fellowship with Christ.
How near is eternity? How near is hell?
The believer goes from the power of Satan to the power of God (Galatians 1:13; 1 John 4:4).
There is to crown without the cross, no crown without drinking of the cup. No glory without suffering.
Christ did not come to save Himself from the cross, He came to save us from the cross.
As Christ hung in agony on our cross, His first three statements were concern for others — the Christian life is easier than the sinful life!
Christ wants us to remain near the Cross.
The cross is Holy ground.
The Lord was left all alone without the Father or His friends. He died alone so we don’t have to — angels will be there to escort us to the Father and to the Son.
Jesus was on the cross forsaken by God so that we will never be forsaken by God (Hebrews 13:5).
Bible Doctrine (divine viewpoint) is important because the only alternative to it is human viewpoint.
Place the Bible on a large ship and set it adrift on the sea of human viewpoint and you have a better perspective of the power of divine viewpoint in the devil’s word — that little Bible is more powerful than all the raging waters of Earth.
The essence of the believer’s maturity it the ability to view the details of life through Scriptural eyes (Psalm 135 reveals one TRUE GOD).
So-called “gods” are created by man; Yahweh is Creator.
So-called “gods” are silent and blind; Yahweh speaks and sees all.
Psalms concludes that idols are dumb, blind, deaf, and dead, and so are all those who make them and worship them (Psalm 135:18).