Crucified sinners represent all people, Gray said

by Lauren Crane

All of humanity is represented by one of two thieves who were crucified alongside Jesus, Buddy Gray said.

The pastor of Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., Gray spoke to the Southeastern family during chapel on February 19. Speaking out of Luke 23:32-43, Gray discussed the relevancy of the two criminals, who were crucified alongside of Jesus, and related them to people today.“I want us to look at those three crosses. I want us to look at those two criminals. The Bible says they are criminals. They were on “Jerusalem’s Most Wanted List,” Gray said. “Both of them were heaping insults on Jesus. They have a great deal in common. One on the right, and one on the left. There is something very different about them, though. That is how they come to view Jesus Christ.”

Gray said through the course of their time on the cross, the two criminals developed two very opposing views of Christ. Those two views represent the opposing views all people have of Jesus, he said. Each of the two represents humanity.

“We are all thieves, and have robbed God of his glory,” Gray said.The first criminal is the one who doesn’t care about Christ as Messiah, he only wants his own suffering to end, Gray said. He added that this criminal had no remorse for his sin, only deep distress at the suffering his sin was costing him.

“He does not want forgiveness, he only wants escape,” Gray said. “There are a lot of people who are like this man. They want to avoid the suffering in their lives. They want to avoid all of the crosses they may have to bear. There are many people in churches who are like this one man. They want escape, but not forgiveness.

“In America especially, we have a very distorted Gospel. We tell people, ‘You just come to Jesus and he will make your family better. You come to Jesus and he will straighten up your finances. Just come to Jesus and he will bless you. That is not the Gospel. That will not save people; it will only damn people,” Gray said.

The first criminal on the cross rejects Jesus and his salvation because he thinks it is all about him, a problem that is at the heart of his sin.

However, the second man on the second cross, Gray said, begins to have his heart softened by Jesus, and his eyes begin to open. Gray said he hears Jesus repeating, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and thinks, “Maybe this man can forgive me.” This man’s heart had the appropriate attitude, Gray added.

“If you’re going to come to Christ, there must be the attitude in your heart, ‘I fear God.’ Without fear of God, I do not believe you can seriously turn to Jesus in faith. All you will ever see Jesus as is an add-on to your life. He’s optional. You think, ‘I’ll add him because he can make my business better, my sex life better, my finances better. He’ll make me happier. I’ll have my best life now.’” Gray said. “If there is no fear of the Holy Creator God to whom one day we will give an account, you will never take Jesus seriously.”

Gray said it is vital to no make excuses for the deeds done, but to confess guilt in real humility, as the second criminal did. He also said people must see Jesus Christ as holy.“It matters who we think Jesus is. He alone is worthy of faith and my allegiance,” Gray said. “He went to the cross, not because he was guilty, but because we were guilty.”

Finally, Gray said, after assessing his situation, realizing the mess he was in and the coming kingdom, he calls out to God for forgiveness and to be saved. Gray said it was a simple prayer, “Jesus save me.”

“Through the eyes of faith, this man trusts Jesus. That is what salvation is all about,” Gray said. He added that the criminal’s belief and complete trust in immediate salvation “cuts through a lot of false theology.”“This really is justification by faith alone. Notice there was no baptism, no communion, no confession, no last rites, no church membership, no good works, no praying a prayer, no walking an aisle. This man trusts in Christ alone…All he can do is trust in the work of Jesus Christ, and Jesus says that is all that it takes.

“There were two sinners. Both heard and saw the same Jesus. One is in paradise with Jesus. One is in a place of eternal isolation,” Gray said. “This represents the entire world. Jesus Christ is the line of demarcation. Everyone in the world will be categorized as someone who was saved by Christ or someone who was not.”