“Peace for the Future”

What does a dying criminal have to teach us about assurance and life after death?  A lot.  Check out this message to learn how Jesus can give us assurance and peace for life and life after death.

Message Notes

Luke 23:40-43 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Hebrews 9:27-28a “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.”
Isaiah 53:6 “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
NLT, Tyndale

5 Facts the Dying Man Knew

I am ACCOUNTABLE to God. Luke 23:40a, Heb. 9:27-28
I have LEFT God’s path for life. Luke 23:41a, Isaiah 53:6
Jesus is MORE than a man. Luke 23:41b-32
Only God’s GRACE can save me. Luke 23:42, Eph. 2:8-9
Jesus will ACCEPT me if I ask now. Luke 23:42

Jesus’ Salvation: Brings Life and Heaven

It is CERTAIN. Luke 23:43 “I assure you…”
It is IMMEDIATE. Luke 23:43 “…today…”
It is a RELATIONSHIP. Luke 23:43 “…you will be with me…”
It leads to a PLACE. Luke 23:43 “…in paradise.”

Next Steps

To share your Next Steps for this message or Prayer Requests, email them to MV@missiontrailschurch.com or text 619-786-2682 (Mission Trails Church Mission Valley Campus Phone)

– Visit Mission Trails Church again
– Recognize Jesus is more than human
– Seek God’s peace & assurance
– Memorize Ephesians 2:8-10
– Pray others have Jesus’ assurance
– Start serving at Mission Trails Church
– Start serving at Mission Trails Church Mission Valley
– Be baptized as a follower of Jesus
– Join or host a small group
– Place my faith in Jesus & become His follower

Referenced previous Message by Rick Warren