the thief

[BigEd]

Lk. 23:39-43 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren’t you the Christ? 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, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

 

This scripture is a great reminder, that it is God's grace that saves us not our own works.

The thief was a wicked man , he was a convicted criminal, sentenced to death. he is dieing. he will never go to church. he will never sing on the worship team. he will never work in the youth minstry. he will never evangelise to a single person. he has earned nothing, yet he has gained all, because he confessed his sin and repented, and called apon Christ. This man who lived a wicked life leading to this death, saw in Christ, not  just another convicted criminal, but The Messiah, the King.

This is a great comfort, for my salvation isn't dependent on my half-hearted acts, my stumbling attempts at Godliness, or my ability to deal with sin in my life. Its Christ's death and resurection that redemes me. its the power of Christ that saves me, and bulids me up.

 

 

[Kim777]

AMEN BigEd

Grace is sometimes called "unmerited favor". Grace is what God offers to fallen sinners through the salvation obtained by the atonement of Jesus Christ. We call it grace because it is undeserved. The forgiveness we receive in Christ is through no work we ourselves do, it is for this reason we call it "unmerited favor". (Romans 3:24, Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10, Titus 2:11)

 

[Blessed-one]

unmerited favor.

i admit that sometimes i don't feel i deserved to be saved because of my sin.... but emotions can really trick us! glad to know and be reassured, that it is God's grace that saves me, not my own work! for i'll never be as perfect as Jesus.