LET’S UNDERSTAND

Assurance, not Fear: The word “assurance” appears more times in the book of Hebrews than in any other book in the New Testament (See Heb. 3:14; 6:11; 10:22; 11:1). “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for” (Heb. 11:1). And this assurance is given to us because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and His continued intercession for us, presenting His blood on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. The book of Hebrews takes Old Testament typology (symbols and foreshadows of Jesus’ ministry) and explains it in light of the cross. It is the book of “better hope, better covenant, better sacrifice and better priest.” It is all about Jesus, and when believers understand what Christ has achieved through His blood, there is only one reality: Assurance!

Therefore, whether we are discussing our salvation, our daily lives, or end-time events, fear is no longer part of the equation; assurance has taken over.

F. F. Bruce’s comments on Hebrews 10:19-25 are very insightful: “The ‘boldness’ which believers in Christ have to enter the heavenly sanctuary through him is set in contrast with the restrictions which hedged about the privilege of symbolic entry into the presence of God in Israel’s earthly sanctuary. In it not all the people could exercise this privilege, but the high priest only, as their representative; and even he could not exercise the privilege any time he chose, but at fixed times and under fixed conditions. But those who have been cleansed within, consecrated and made perfect by the sacrifice of Christ, have received a free right of access into the holy presence and our author urges his readers to avail themselves fully of this free right… . The way by which they enter the presence of God is a new way, which did not exist until he opened it up and entered thereby himself. It is thus a new way; it is also a ‘living way.’ For in effect the ever-living Christ himself, as his people’s sacrifice and priest, is the way to God… . Those who have experienced the inward cleansing that Christ’s self-offering has effected may well be marked by sincerity of heart and ‘faith’s full assurance” (Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews, [NICNT], pp. 249, 250, 254).

Death and Paradise: Before Christianity, the fear of death was common, paralyzing, and widespread. People were terrified by the very thought of death and the unknown surrounding it. When Jesus lived, died, and conquered death, He radically changed the way His followers spoke about death. No longer was it a horrifying event, but a sweet sleep (see John 11:11-15). The deceased are resting, waiting for the resurrection morning, when they will hear a loud Voice calling them out of their tombs, and welcoming them to Paradise.

“‘I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with Me in paradise.’ Christ did not promise that the thief would be with Him in paradise that day. He Himself did not go that day to paradise. He slept in the tomb, and on the morning of the resurrection He said, ‘I am not yet ascended to My Father’ (John 20:17). But on the day of the crucifixion, the day of apparent defeat and darkness, the promise was given. ‘Today’ while dying upon the cross as a malefactor, Christ assures the poor sinner, Thou shalt be with Me in paradise” (White, The Desire of Ages, p. 751).

“The criminal … is the first to recognize that Jesus’ death is not a contradiction of his messiahship, his role as Savior; he is the first to recognize that Jesus’ crucifixion is a precursor to his enthronement … and that he anticipates in his request Jesus’ kingly rule. ‘Paradise’ refers to ‘God’s garden,’ an eschatological image of new creation. Jesus’ promise of Paradise ‘today’ is in keeping with Luke’s understanding of the immediacy of salvation (cf. 4:21; 19:9) and underscores a central aspect of Luke’s perspective on Jesus’ death: God’s plan comes to fruition through, not in spite of, the crucifixion of Jesus, so that Jesus is able to exercise his regal power of salvation in death as in life” (Green, The Gospel of Luke [NICNT], pp. 822, 823).

What difference does Jesus’ assurance make when you or a loved one faces death?

 

 

The Fattened Calf: Throughout the Jewish Scriptures, the atoning, substitutionary death of the Savior has been illustrated by the death of an animal, many times a calf/bull (see the Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16:3, 6, 11, 14, 15, 18, 27).

Jesus was that sacrifice for the atoning of sins.

The father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son uses the same word that was used in the Greek Old Testament for the bulls sacrificed on the Day of Atonement. In the parable, the “fattened calf” (Luke 15:23) was killed and the celebration began! Jesus died so that we may have a place in the father’s household!

Oh, my soul, rejoice! My heart burns within me and I receive, once again, the assurance of salvation through Christ’s blood! Why do you think there are so many celebrations in Jesus’ lost and found parables? (see Luke 15:6, 9, 23, 24).

 

 

LET’S REFLECT

One of the most inspiring stories I have heard is the account of a father son team, Dick and Rick Hoyt. They run marathons together. The amazing thing is the fact that the son, Rick, is a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Most remarkably, every time they participate in a race, his father, Dick, pushes him in a wheelchair all the way to the finish line. It all started in 1977, when Rick, then a young man, asked his father to help him participate in a five-mile benefit run for a lacrosse player who was paralyzed in an accident. His father agreed and pushed Rick in a wheelchair. When they finished that first race, Rick wanted to say something to his dad, but he can’t talk, so he had to wait until they got home. At home, Rick can communicate because, even though he can’t control his extremities and lips, he has a headpiece attached to his chair through which he can type into a computer. He typed, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.”

Dick got so excited about this new discovery that he started training systematically, so that his son could participate in more races. He gave his son the assurance that he would bring him to the finish line every time. Since that first run, Dick and Rick Hoyt have participated in many races, and are still running today. To learn more about this amazing family, visit their Web site, www.teamhoyt.com. You will be enchanted by photos of Rick’s smile as they run. And it is heartwarming to see Dick’s efforts as he works to help his son, who can’t run for himself.

For me, the story reached its apez when I saw a documentary about the Hoyt Team participating in the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. Dick took his son through 112 miles of biking, 26.2miles of running, and 2.4 miles of swimming so that Rick might experience the thrill of the race! Rick will always be a winner, not because he is a strong and able athlete, but because his father, Dick, always takes him to the finish line! Rick lives with that assurance. Their story has become a powerful enacted parable for me, demonstrating how my salvation is achieved.

 

 

Why do you think Jesus gave the thief on the cross such an outrageous response about “Paradise”?

 

 

What evidence shows that a Christian is living with the assurance of salvation secured by Jesus at the cross?

 

 

First comes the crown of thorns, then the crown of glory. Jesus was crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering and death (see Heb. 2:9). What is the relationship between the cross and the kingdom?

 

 

LET’S COMPREHEND JESUS IN SCRIPTURE

Take a moment to read Luke 23:42, 43. We will distinguish four sections in Jesus’ response to the criminal on the cross. But before we do, let’s review the order of the words in the original Greek. That will help us determine the force of each word in the sentence. The original Greek words read in the following order: “Truly to you I say today with Me you will be in paradise.”

Now, let’s analyze the four sections in Jesus’ response:

TODAY. Jesus didn’t want this man to wonder about his fate until Jesus came in His kingdom. No! This criminal could have the assurance of salvation that day, at that very moment, without waiting one more second. No anxiety, no uncertainty, just assurance—today. Today highlights the immediacy of the assurance of salvation throughout Jesus’ ministry: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21; see also 19:9).

YOU WILL BE. The assurance is given in the second person, singular in the future tense; it is a sure thing! You will be. Not, you might be, nor, let Me think if you will be. That very day God’s child could have the assurance that he was going to spend eternity with his Father, in his Father’s household. This was not the end for him, even though it surely looked like it. His presence with Jesus in His kingdom was not just a possibility; it was a reality!

PARADISE. Jesus said, “You will be in Paradise”! Remember Paradise? The nursery God made for His children? The place He created for their delight? The special Garden, in the middle of which was the tree of life! Remember? The very place God’s children lost back in Genesis 3? This criminal is the first to be promised a bite from the fruit of the tree of life! He will be in Paradise! The Greek word used in Genesis 2 and 3 is paradeisõs (the New Testament writers, when referencing the Old Testament, used the Greek translation, called the Septuagint-LXX). This is the place! Back with the Creator. This is the only time in all four Gospels that Jesus utters the word paradise! At this very moment, He was opening up a way back home for His children, the way back to the tree of life, while taking upon Himself the death penalty they deserved. He chose to offer His perfect life (which none of us have) as a ransom for His children. And now, He could promise Paradise! This undeserving son was the first recipient of that promise! Surprise! Paradise! The way home has been re-opened!

WITH ME. Perhaps you noticed that I have skipped this phrase so far. In Greek, the weight of the content is in the middle of the sentence. I wanted to leave this important middle part—”with Me”—to the last. Jesus is saying to the thief on the cross, “My undeserving child, all of the above is true for one reason: you will be with Me. You will be in Paradise because you are with Me. The best robe is my robe of righteousness placed on you, even though you do not deserve it. Do you understand? That is why it is in the middle of the sentence, I am your assurance!”

LET’S RESPOND TO GOD’S AMAZING ASSURANCE

We are undeserving children of God. Yet we live with full assurance of salvation. He has embraced us, kissed us, and clothed us with His robe of righteousness. We have sandals on our feet because we are children of the King. We have prayed the prodigal criminal’s prayer, and have received the same assurance he got that day. When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we can live with the assurance of salvation that He himself gave the criminal on the cross.

Now we are ready to respond in gratitude, dedicating our lives to God’s glory. Please complete this stem exercise by writing 10 different endings to the following sentence: “I accept Jesus’ assurance because …”

 

 

We live within the paradox of two realities: we are underserving, and we are saved through Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves! Let’s choose faith over fear. We can live with the surprising assurance that we will be with Jesus in Paradise. That assurance is with us at all times. Let me share with you my favorite childhood verse: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1, 2). Yes, He is not only present; He is the very present help. Be assured!