Reading Classics – The Seven Sayings (Chapter 2)
Today I move on to Chapter 2 of A. W. Pink’s book, The Sayings of the Savior on the Cross. You can view all the posts in this series by clicking HERE.
— SUMMARY —
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:42-43)
This second saying of Jesus on the cross is part of a conversation between Jesus and one of the thieves between which he was crucified. Pink makes four general observations before he moves into his seven points regarding the interaction between Jesus and the thief.
First, “God was presiding over that scene. … All that God had decreed came to pass exactly as He had ordained, and nothing happened save as He had eternally purposed.”
Second, part of God’s purpose was that Jesus would be “numbered with the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12) Pink points out that this illustrates the depth to which Christ descended in humiliation on the cross. He was both “despised” and “rejected”.
Third, the sovereignty of God is on display in the salvation of the thief. Here we have two thieves with very similar circumstances and experiences. While both had been belligerent toward Jesus only one repents.
Fourth, this is the most clear instance of “victorious grace”. The thief most clearly had absolutely no claim to his own salvation. “Grace begins, grace continues, and grace consummates our salvation.”
Pink now moves on to make seven observations about the thief himself and his salvation.
Here we see …
1) … a representative sinner: Everyone who repents must first see himself as no different than this vile thief on the cross, who even mocked Jesus, with nothing to offer in order to obtain salvation.
2) … that man has to come to the end of himself before he can be saved: The thief represents for us the person who has come to the end of his ability to work for his salvation. The thief could not offer any practical righteousness. The only activity yet available to the thief was to die.
3) … the meaning of repentance and faith: Pink notes that repentance is more than a turning from sin, but is also a “judging of ourselves” as completely undone.
4) … a marvelous case of spiritual illumination: Pink observes that the thief is taught seven things by the Spirit in these brief moments.
(a) “His belief in a future life where retribution would be meted out by a righteous and sin-avenging God.”
(b) “He had a sight of his own sinfulness.”
(c) “He bore testimony to Christ’s sinlessness.”
(d) “He … confessed [Christ’s] Godhead.”
(e) “He believed in the Saviourhood of the Lord Jesus.”
(f) “He evidenced his faith in Christ’s Kingship.”
(g) “He looked forward to the second coming of Christ.”
5) … the Saviourhood of Christ: Repeatedly Jesus gives “no response” to those who accuse Him, but the repentant thief receives His full attention.
6) … the destination of the saved: The form of Jesus’ response to the thief matches the form of the thief’s question. From this matching it is clear that Jesus intimates to the thief and that that “today” is the day that He enters into His kingdom and “today” is the day that the thief will be with Him in that kingdom; that is, paradise.
7) … the longing of the Saviour for fellowship: Pink notes that while it is true that we are “saved to serve” Christ’s intent in salvation is to bring a lost people into fellowship with Himself. Thus we are not in the main saved for service, but for fellowship.
— REFLECTION —
Again, Pink packs much of the power of the chapter into the paragraphs before he even launches into his main points.
When Pink discusses the Savior’s being “numbered with transgressors” it struck me that the lawmaker was numbered among the lawbreakers. The one who authored and embodies the command not to covet now both stands with and, by virtue of becoming sin for the sake of the redeemed, embodies every covetous deed of the redeemed. He stands between two sinners but would bear the sin of only one. He is identified with the lawbreakers of both the damned and the redeemed, but he comes into His kingdom granting victory only to the repentant.
In Pink’s discussion of victorious grace it struck me that while many of the redeemed throughout history have desired to die on account of obedience to the Lord, here we have one who dies on account of disobedience and yet with the Lord! It is true that the Lord was crucified alongside transgressors, but it is equally true that He was crucified alongside one of the elect. Jesus was crucified between two thieves. And Jesus was crucified between one of the damned and one of the redeemed. How clearly the point is made that there are none on the crosses next to Jesus, at the foot of the cross, or reading the record of the crucifixion today that are not counted a thief, a lawbreaker, a transgressor. That is a matter of sobering reality. But among these transgressors there are members of the redeemed; that is, those who will enter into the kingdom of paradise.
I often reflect on the meaning and location of the kingdom. This has become a great matter of importance in our present day with the justification of many actions based upon kingdom work or doing work to extend the kingdom. I find Pink’s paralleling the thief’s question with the Lord’s answer very helpful. Jesus and John both taught that the kingdom was at hand. And it is true that the kingdom is the reach of the power of the King, and Jesus was displaying that power “at hand” or nearby or at present. But in Jesus’ response He seems to be saying that on that day, the day of His crucifixion, He was entering into His kingdom and the location of that kingdom is paradise. I readily admit that my study and reflection upon the doctrines of the kingdom are immature, but it seems to me that a likely explanation is that the geographical location of the kingdom, or the center of the kingship, is the already present locale of paradise. The power of this center of the kingdom reaches into even the evil and tainted locale of the world in order to bring to Himself all the number of the redeemed. The consumation of the kingdom is a future event in which he will bring the center of His kingship, heaven, to a new earth in order to establish His eternal reign with His bride, the redeemed, throughout all of creation. (I greatly encourage readers to interact patiently with me and others regarding the kingdom. It seems to me that the kingdom is a matter of great importance in our present day and thus a matter worth understanding and clarifying that we would place ourselves rightly within God’s view of His own kingdom. I appreciate any comments.)
Finally, Pink offers a wonderfully concise and revealing definition of repentance. I believe that I will have to commit this definition to memory.
Repentance is not so much an intellectual process as it is the conscience active in the presence of God.
God manifests His presence to the sinner and the sinner’s conscience is pricked with the reality of his own “lost estate”. This is just as true for the one first realizing His need for a Savior and conversion as it is for the converted whom God convicts of a present and persistent sin. How many believers can confess that they have experienced this reality. We know that our actions and thoughts are sin. Our mind and even our emotions may be engaged in our hated of our sin even to the degree that we attempt to set our wills upon repentance. But is it not true that it is only when God encounters us with His holiness (whether it be in prayer or in worship or in reading) that genuine repentance truly begins. Effective turning has begun.
This chapter has been overwhelmingly helpful to me. It has been especially helpful as I have gone back to reflect upon the practical implications of the things to which Pink has drawn my attention.
— INVITING YOUR THOUGHTS —
I hope that as you read that you will also respond below and interact with me as well as visit challies.com and interact there. As we interact let us keep in the spirit of A. W. Pink in his worshipful study and encouraging meditations.