Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

CHRIST-CENTERED FAITH
Part 2

1. It was made under the least favorable circumstances:
   1. In a seemingly hopeless surrounding.
   2. It came after he had jointly mocked the bleeding Saviour - Matt. 27:44
2. It shows that where there is life there is hope:
   1. He had a change of heart in the shadow of death.
   2. It reveals that he had a certain knowledge of the kingdom of Christ--"remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom" - Luke 23:42

1. It creates a penitent attitude:
   1. He sees that his punishment was just.
   2. "We indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds" - Luke 23:41
   3. "Doest thou not fear God?"
   4. It brought a complete change into the life of the suffering criminal.
2. It lifted the dying thief beyond his hopelessness and despair:
   1. Not so with the other criminal! Think of his cry of despair - "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us" - Luke 23:39
   2. It enabled him to see the light of hope in the darkest and most forbidding environment.
   3. He sees a different reason for the death of Christ on the cross!
3. He calls Christ "Lord":
   1. At a moment when the world looked upon Christ as "a defeated imposter".
   2. Many see Christ in a place of honor and esteem, but not on the shameful cross!
   3. Oh! The power and vision of a Christ-centered faith!
   4. We need that faith to appreciate the Christ of the Bible crucified for our sins!
   5. That was the great revelation to Paul - 1 Cor. 1:23

1. It was instant and powerfully reassuring:
   1. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise" - Luke 23:43
   2. It transferred a condemned but penitent thief from eternal condemnation to the kingdom of the Son God!
   3. This raises a very serious question--does our prayer do that for us?
2. Think of the meaning of our Lord's answer?
   1. All sins of the sinner are blotted out as if they never had been committed - Mi. 7:18, 19; Isa. 44:22
   2. No other condition for forgiveness and hope are stated!
   3. Our Lord literally transfers the penitent thief from a state of condemnation to commendation!
3. All this and more is the fruit of the Christ-centered faith:
   1. The thief saw salvation in the light of the cross on Calvary!
   2. He trusted in the merits of the atonement made for sinners on the cross.
   3. This is the real faith that will bring eternal redemption to the one who is blessed with it; it matters not what his past might have been!
4. Oh! What a lesson for me and you, dear reader:
   1. Light and hope in the darkest and most forbidding environment!
   2. A faith that is able to center in Jesus Christ and Him crucified for me and for you!
   3. A faith that can trust God, who gave His only Son to save us from sin and give us the hope of eternal life - John 3:16