3 MEN, 3 CROSSES AND 3 DEATHS

LUKE 23:32-46
Though there are many means by which one might experience death, there are only two possible conditions in which one might meet the hour of death. We see each of those two conditions in the text for today.
THE FIRST MAN DIED IN SIN: V39: And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. The thief, though in a perilous position himself, joined the other mockers railing and abusing Jesus verbally. His heart was not softened by the certainty of his impending death. He died in sin.
THE SECOND MAN DIED TO SIN: VV40-42: But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Not long before this man, too, had hurled verbal venom at Jesus. But eternity dawned on him. Death's cold hand touched him. Judgment came to mind. And he repented. He died to sin.Paul reminds all who have been baptized into Christ that they have died to sin, Romans 6:1-4.
THE THIRD MAN DIED FOR SIN: V46: And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Jesus was not the victim of circumstances, a helpless martyr caught up in a plan gone awry! He was a willing participant and was in charge of His own destiny!