I agree. He chose you. He saves you. It's all him. Glory to him.
"Everyone who the Father gives to me will come to me. & whoever comes to me I will never cast out"
But be warned of easy-believism. The thief on the cross confesses to the kingdom, he still recognizes who Jesus is.
But why did he confess to the kingdom? The Father chose him & saved him & was all him to his glory
Agreed wholeheartedly! I believe there is a remedy to the temptation to interpret this testimony of the thief as easy-believism - if one carefully considers just what happened with that pentitent thief - as opposed to the unrepentant thief.
Luke 23:32-43
"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
"The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
"The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
"There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews."
"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
"But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
"Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
"Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Examination:
"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left."
These two - both guilty and deserving - now had the premier front row seats to witness the greatest act of evil - and the greatest response of Love - that could ever be demonstrated by our Creator to a world of rebellious, stiff-necked, ungrateful, petulant, unbelieving and doubtful children.
Thank the good Lord that He is "kind to the ungrateful and wicked" while we were yet sinners. Luke 6:35
"Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
All creation witnesses here God's intent for every created being - that none should perish. Jesus prayed this for ALL of us - without making distinctions between who was pre-ordained to salvation and who was not. The truly chosen are made evident by our response to this holy prayer. No one can claim coercion by God.
"The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
This is the response of those whose focus is on this temporal life, loving the darkness and coveting the deceitful pleasures of sin above the joy of knowing God.
"The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
This is one of the pivotal moments of Christ's crucifixion. This was, in fact, one of the devil's last temptations toward Christ.
The other Gospels, in harmony with Luke, indicate that Jesus tasted of this mixture and refused it.
Note: Jesus simply stated that He thirsted - His only appeal for the smallest measure of relief from the cross. He did not specify the drink.
He is offered wine, which would have dulled the sense of pain somewhat - He refused. He had already proclaimed He would not drink of the fruit of the vine until the arrival of His coming Kingdom. Jesus kept His promise.
Also, wine is for kings. Once again, Almighty God humbles Himself before all creation.
He is also offered vinegar, which is bitter. What man who has ever walked this earth could claim more right to be bitter towards God than His own perfectly obedient Son, and bitter toward all of us wretches who nailed Him there?
Who was tempting Him to abandon the integrity of His faith and curse God under the pressure of the most intense suffering - the full wrath of God, ie: hell - and unto death?
Satan. How He lusted to induce Jesus to proclaim God a liar along with him. As he lusts for us to do.
We've seen this temptation before. Job's wife: "Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!" Job 2:9
Who here of faith has never been tempted likewise? Who amongst us will refuse to do so and walk away from God - clinging to His promises unto death?
Another note about bitterness. It is referred to as wormwood in the OT. That worm of bitterness will never die in the hearts of the eternally damned - towards God ("gnashing of teeth"), and towards His children - an intense jealousy and envy and hatred that will never subside.
Weeping only for self - and no one else. The eternal "unjust victim" who doesn't get to be their own god after all.
"There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews."
Little did His executioners and mockers know how profound a declaration this is. For all believers past and present - Jew and Gentile - are spiritual children of Abraham. "King of the Jews" means King of Kings and Lord of Lords over ALL creation - and effectual towards those who accept the Bridegroom's proposal and are grafted into the Body of Christ - the Bride. All One Church united finally.
Our blood doesn't identify us as His eternal children. His blood does.
Now we get to the nutcut. We are all thieves on crosses - witnessing our Savior proposing to us to join in His death and join in His eternal life through faith - sharing His glory.
"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
There is one choice. Remain focused on this life, desiring a reprieve, so that we can resume indulging in our sinful pleasures and maintain our own sense of godhood. Calling Him Lord with no intent towards gratitude for what He has truly done for us. Using His grace to continue on in demanding the blessings of God, with no desire to seek and know Him and what He commands of us.
"But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
The evidence of this man's saving faith:
Fear and reverance of God - as a righteous Judge. And to follow immediately, acknowledgement that this same God is also the Redeemer Himself.
Repentance - Agreeing with God that he is a sinner deserving of his fate.
Turning from sin - refusing to join in with the other thief to curse and mock the obvious Messiah - even rebuking the tempter openly while enduring the same suffering. (Just like we do - His legitimate children).
Declaring God holy: Recognizing His Son an innocent man, Who bears the image of the Father and is Himself God.
This is the epitome of recognizing God's sovereignty.
"Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Final evidence of this man's saving faith:
Declaring faith in the Name of Jesus before all men. An absolute essential component of genuine salvation.
Recognizing Jesus' inheritance and authority over His Father's Kingdom.
Enduring.
Persevering.
Finishing the race.
Fighting the good fight.
Keeping the faith.
Fully sanctified by following Jesus' example.
Purity by faith.
And finally, most joyful of all, bearing much fruit through his testimony - fruit that has remained, lo, these ~ 2000 years. Jesus' supreme desire. And by the preceeding children of faith for the ~ 4000 years prior.
And this blessed thief didn't even know how profoundly Jesus used Him to bring glory to His Father. I wonder if any of His broken vessels of faith throughout the Bible really did.
None of us really know, do we?
How was all this accomplished? By something I just cannot understand myself. By mere fact that God chose us despite our unworthiness then, and now.
Don't we all occasionally ask our Loving Father, why me? I just don't know. But there is the source of our tears and joy - utter gratitude for having been chosen - in His Mind - before He knit us in our mother's womb.
An election activated only because God somehow gave us the gift we weren't even seeking - to recognize Grace Himself when we saw Him - and responding by embracing that Grace - embracing Jesus.
A simple prayer of faith. Like the thief, by just asking.
Why are we saved? Because God says so. Romans 8:16.
And the declaration of all of His children is:
"God says it, I believe it, that settles it."
Jesus affirmed His identity to the last breath in commiting His Spirit to *His Father*.
Why shouldn't we?
The faith of a little child.
Easy believism? Cheap grace? Hardly!
A visual of this our testimony is attached. This is one of my brothers in Christ on this past Father's Day with his sons. We who are in the know... know exactly Who his shirt is quoting!
Is there a better declaration of our faith?
