The Man on the Middle Cross Said I Can Come | Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg via Youtube ^ | 6/17/2021 | Alistair Begg

[vespa300]

"Think about the thief on the cross. I can't wait to find that fellow one day to ask him how did that shake out for you? Because you were cussing the guy out with your friend, you've never been in a Bible study, you never got baptized, you didn't know a thing about church membership, ....and yet.....you made it! you made it! ........

How did you make it?!!!........That's what the angel must have said......you know like.."What are you doing here?" ......

Well I don't know.....what do you mean you don't know?! Well because I don't know! Well.....excuse me , let me get my supervisor ......(supervising angel comes)...we have just a few questions for you......first of all, are.are, uh, are you clear on the doctrine of Justification by faith? Guy said I never heard of it in my life, .....ok, let's just go to the doctrine of scripture immediately, .....guy (thief) just staring....

And eventually in frustation the supervising Angel asks him......on what basis are you here? And he (the thief) said......The Man on the middle cross said I could come.

[vespa300]

The Protestant Creed...Grace alone through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone.

What a difference it does when we preach Christ when our emphasis is on Christ, a wounded God......then on a church and dead saints and a dead Mother, the mother of Jesus who is dead in her grave awaiting her resurrection like all others who will be raised on that day.

Christ alone!

[metmom]

John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

[vespa300]

He quotes Luther, the Reformer who said so profoundly and with truth......

“that’s why Luther said most of your Christian life is OUTSIDE of you, in this sense, that we know we are not saved by good works, we’re not saved as a result of our professions, but we are saved as a result of what Christ has achieved.”

I invite you to read what Ellen White wrote about Luther. It is so compelling and so profound...this mighty hero of God, Luther, who God used to help restore gospel truth, especially on righteousness by faith alone.

https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/132.526#526

[exnavy]

It kinda shows that all thous things you mentioned do not give salvation. You cannot buy it, earn it, steal it. It is given freely. All you have to do is have a yes in your heart.

[drwoof]

Amen. A beautiful thing, ain’t it?

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

What a crappy “sermon”.
Theology of Glory

[vespa300]

____John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.___

This is of course true. However some translations use the word “condemnation” instead of Judgement. There is a judgement for all of us, Christians included. The difference is we are not “condemned” in the Judgement. We have the blood of Christ.

Dr. Billy Graham used to preach a lot on the Judgement. Because he read the Bible and knew what it said. The Geneva Bible translation (1599 ad) is an Example:

24 [a]Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but hath passed from death to life.

and of course we read about the Judgement throughout scripture. All people. Peter himself said “Judgement starts with the House of the Lord.....” 1 Peter 4:17

Hebrews 9: 27:
It is accounted unto man to die once and then the judgement.

2 Corinthians 5: 9 and 10:

The Judgment Seat of Christ
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad

Matthew 12:36 our Lord says:

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

Ecclesiastes 12:14

For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.

So while the sincere believer is judged ......he is not condemned. His sins are covered by the blood and he is not only forgiven, not only acquitted, it is as if he has NEVER committed a single sin. The perfect life of Christ is IMPUTED to him.

That is how Luther could say.....my righteousness, is in heaven. And that is why Jesus said, if we are counting anything we do to get to heaven....our righteousness must “exceed” that of the Pharisees. We must be PERFECT to get to heaven. Never a single thought of sin.

And the only way..it through the imputed righteousness of Christ. A free gift and I don’t need a human priest or pope or church. Christ alone.

[vespa300]

The atonement on our behalf, God dead on a cross...is the most complex mystery this universe will ever experience. How can it be...God actually died. And all for us. Throughout eternity it will be the science and the song of the redeemed. Amen. yes....beautiful.

[vespa300]

_____It kinda shows that all thous things you mentioned do not give salvation. You cannot buy it, earn it, steal it. It is given freely. All you have to do is have a yes in your heart._____

Amen. Which is why all those things we do , obedience to his law is not to get Saved. It is because we are saved. Amen.

[nagant]

John 3:16

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

Thank you Vespa. The Gospel (The Good News) is so simple that even a thief hanging on the point of death on a cross next to Jesus understood that because of Jesus he could come to heaven, and yet the world wants to make it complicated, dependent on priests, dead saints, special prayers, and good deeds, where and when we worship, and on and on.

One of my favorite hymns comes to mind…. “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty.

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe. This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save: Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied – For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine – Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

[vespa300]

Amen Brother.

I tell people all the time how much those hymns of old have good sound theology. I’m a great sinner but Christ is a greater savior. They all pretty much say that.

Paul called himself the chief of sinners and he could say that because he was that close to God.

Amen , thank you!

[KitJ]

Judas Priest, vespa. For heavens’ sake, for Christ’s sake, for God’s sake.

Will you please stop peddling your cult here on Free Republic?

I acknowledge your faith and devotion. This just may not be the fertile ground of unbelievers you’re looking for. Try out annoying people door to door instead of online.

[vespa300]

____Judas Priest, vespa. For heavens’ sake, for Christ’s sake, for God’s sake.

Will you please stop peddling your cult here on Free Republic?___

Uh, I posted it in the religion section. I average less than one post a day. I see Catholic posts several times a day.

I don’t get some of you people. It’s bizarre. Either you don’t know how to filter by forum.....and or somebody is making you read things.

By the way......Alistar Begg is not a Seventh day Adventist. He’s a protestant preacher of the gospel, A sunday protestant that I admire and respect. I am blessed by his preaching.

Some of you are not that intelligent.

[Lurker]

If you don’t like it, don’t read it.

Pretty simple, really.

L

[BipolarBob]

Apparently you didn’t watch the video which was ALL ABOUT Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. If you find that annoying, you will find Hell much more annoying.

[metmom]

Thanks.

I post one verse and get a lecture in response. Like I didn’t already know that.

Nor am I interested in being convinced that someone’s cult it right because that’s where this thread will end up. I know what I believe and why.

Lesson learned. Not worth posting anything on these threads.

[spincaster]

You be a good servant for Devil.

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

What this leaves unspoken is our responsibility to repent of our sins in response to accepting the gift of salvation.

I know that wasn’t Begg’s point, but as someone much wiser than I am once said,
“Any belief that doesn’t change your behavior is a meaningless belief.”

[BipolarBob]

Thank you for the verse you posted.