Help for Counselors

• Each counselor will be given a booklet entitled, “The faith-sharing NT with the Psalms (NRSV)”.

• Two relevant sections:– Basics of Conversion and

Discipleship.– The Essentials for Leading

a Person to Christ.

Text: Text: Luke 23:35-43

= Dramatic Experience of Conversions

Acts 9:4-5 - He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

Topic:Topic: Today you will be with me in paradise.

= From Conversion to Paradise.

Luke 23:42-43 - Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

How Can We Safeguard Our Salvation in this

World?

1. 1. Element of Time in Salvation

Vs 43 - Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

= How is the Element of Time Applied in the Matter of Salvation?

2Corinthians 6:1-2 - As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

2Peter 3:8 - But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

= What do You Mean When You Say, “I Am Saved”?

“The day Wesley applied the truth of Scripture to himself, it became the day of his salvation. Many of his fellow church members thought well of themselves, that they were not too bad after all. Thus, they remain in their sin.” (Quote from Lent devotion written by Bishop Robert Solomon, 9 March. 2011)

= How is the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Related to Your Life Now?

Rom 6:3-4 - Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

2. 2. Element of Identity in Salvation

Vs 43 - Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

= What does it Really Mean by “I am with You Always”?

Vs 43 - Jesus answered him, “today you will be with me in paradise.”

Mt. 28:20b - And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

(1) God is Always Available for Every Christian.

(2) God is Always Available for Everyone.

= Why Do You Think the First Criminal was Not Saved?

(1) He Has No Opinion of his Vs 39-40 - One of the

criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Vs. 35-37 - The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

A Case Study of A Personal Experience of

God

John 4:28-30 - Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

John 4:39-41 - Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.

John 4:42 - They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

(2) He Has No Fear of GodVs. 40 - But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

= What Kind of Faith was Expressed by the Saved Criminal?

Vs. 40a - But the other criminal rebuked him.

(1) He Believes in the Fear of God.

Vs. 40 - But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

(2) He Believes in Justice. Vs 41 - We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

(3) He Believes in his Sin. Vs 41 - We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Luke 18:9-12 - To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

(1) A Pharisee’s Prayer: Luke 18:11-12 - The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men —robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

(2) A Tax Collector’s prayer Luke 18:13-14 - “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.

(4) He Believe in Jesus’ Innocence.

Vs 41 - We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

(5) He Believes in Jesus’ Mercy

Vs. 42 - Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

(6) He Believes in Jesus’ Kingdom

Vs. 42 - Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

3. 3. Element of Location in Salvation

Vs. 43 - “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

= What kind of Place is Paradise?

Vs 43 - “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

= Where did God Put You after Your Conversion?

Vs 43 - “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Philippians 1:21-23 - For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

= How Do You Apply “Work Out Your Salvation” for You?

Philippians 2:12 -  Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

= Why Do We Never Give up on Anyone in the Sharing of the Good News?

(1) Time in Salvation Vs 43 - Jesus answered him,

“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

(2) Value of Human beingLuke 23:33 - When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

How Can We Safeguard Our Salvation in this World?

Element of Time Element of Identity Element of Location

in Salvation