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THE ASTOUNDING CONVERSION OF A CONDEMNED CRIMINAL — Part 13 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even FEAR God, seeing you are under the same condemnation” (Luke 23:39-40)? We have been observing the realities that were manifest in the astonishing conversion of this condemned criminal. In the previous devotion, we recognized that “he was seized with the FEAR OF GOD”! This was the inaugural evidence that the Holy Spirit was powerfully performing a vivifying work in the spiritually dead and darkened heart of this enslaved sinner. If a person has never known anything of the “fear of God”, then they have known nothing of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why is the “fear of God” one of the commencing indications that the Holy Spirit is prosecuting this sinner of sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come? A sinner should “fear God” because of the personal realization of the profound and powerful truth that the Lord God is that individual’s CREATOR! “For He gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Every human being on this planet is enabled to exist by God’s common grace to those who deserve His wrath. Do you realize that the Giver of life could withhold your next breath or your next heartbeat, and be ushered into your eternal destination immediately? When the Spirit of God powerfully applies this truth to a human heart, the stark reality of this verity produces “the fear of God” in the inner core of that sinner. Furthermore, a sinner should also “fear God” because the Lord Jesus will be the FINAL JUDGE of all sinners! Notice closely that this insurrectionist addressed the other, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds.” This condemned criminal, who had graciously come under the mighty power of the prosecuting work of the Holy Spirit, transparently testified that both of them were receiving the condemnation that they legitimately deserved. Both men were guilty criminals under Roman Law. Consequently, both were receiving justice, the just punishment for their transgressions. However, this particular criminal was also testifying that they both were culpable of a condemnation infinitely worse than a Roman crucifixion. Their wicked lives warranted the divine verdict of guilty and were under the wrath of God. God’s wrath involves the everlasting prison-house of the torments of hell! This was just punishment for both criminals, who had sinned against God! Yet, one of these insurrectionists was suddenly gripped with the reality of the spiritual bankruptcy of his own wickedness. He was recognizing the countless sins of his past, passing before his mind’s eye. As a direct result, he was seized with the “fear of God as His final judge”! Precious reader, have you been individually gripped with the fear of God, both as your Creator and your final Judge? Has there ever been a time when you were drawn to the personal realization that all of your thousands of sins have been committed primarily against God? Have you ever been personally magnetized with the spiritual truth that your entire life has been a living offense to the Lord God? This is what the Bible calls the conviction of sin! Conviction involves a true knowledge of your sinfulness before the pristine holiness and inflexible justice of a “sin-despising” God. So that you come to see that “you are a sinner; and nothing but a sinner”, in the presence of God’s holiness and justice. Have you ever been shattered by the moral law of God? Has the iron fist of God’s moral law ever thundered on the door of your heart, revealing that YOU are a convicted criminal in the courtroom of the God of the universe? Has the Holy Spirit ever produced this “fear of God” in your heart of hearts? Please understand, without this conviction of sin and contrition over sin, there is no conversion from the penalty and power of sin. And without conversion, there is no salvation. For this reason, if you have never known the “fear of God’, in the Spirit- produced conviction of your sin, then you should be very concerned this day!