“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'” – John 11:25, 26
“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And He said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'” – Luke 23:39-43
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8, 9
The last few days, we have been meditating on the beautiful salvation experience of the thief on the cross next to Jesus. It reveals to us so many wonderful things about our loving Father and the salvation that He offers to all of us who believe and come to Him in faith. These compassionate words of Jesus are spoken during the very “work” necessary to make our redemption possible!
The Scripture tells us that God Himself did ALL that was needed for lost sinners to experience His amazing “grace”. We cannot earn it…we cannot work for it…we can never be good enough…we are all sinners and the “wages” (consequence) is death. The only way we can receive it is by faith…believing in Him.
Today I want to remind you that there were two criminals crucified with Jesus. One who believed and was welcomed into the Kingdom and one who, tragically, did not believe. The “good news” that we celebrate is that God created everyone and loves us all. He died on the cross for everyone, providing us forgiveness of sin and new life with Him forever! The Truth of the Gospel is that God has done the work. What you could not do…He did. The wages of your sin has been paid and His grace is free for the receiving for those who come to Him by faith…those who believe in Him. It is a universal invitation to all people!
But, we must remember that there were two criminals…sinners…crucified with Jesus. One responded and one did not. One believed and one did not. This should remind us of the truth that the marvelous grace that we cannot earn is only available by faith. Though we can do nothing to make it POSSIBLE we must believe to make it PERSONAL. God’s grace makes it possible and one’s faith makes it personal. This is the whole Gospel…both aspects…both necessary for salvation.
The two criminals at the cross are an illustration of the decision we all face when we stand before the cross of Jesus. A decision between life and death. A decision that determines our eternal destination. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life! The question is the same for us as it was for Martha in the verses above…the same as for the criminals on the cross…”Do you believe?”