One of the greatest portions in the Bible is found in the second chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where he proclaims, ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.’ V8-9.
When speaking about salvation and commenting on these verses Evangelical Christians often use the phrase, ‘Salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone in Christ alone’.
There is a beautiful picture of this truth to be found in the conversion of one of the thieves who were crucified along with the Lord Jesus. Luke records in his Gospel: -
‘And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 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 v 39-43
If ever there is an example of the Grace of God in Salvation here it is. This man was incapable of doing anything to work for his own salvation. He had no opportunity to turn over a new leaf and become a better citizen, he had no opportunity to go to Church, he had no opportunity to be baptized, he had no opportunity to feed the hungry, or comfort the broken hearted, he had no time for pilgrimage or penance. He just called out to the Saviour ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.’
Repentance & Faith
The dying thief exercised these essential acts. He clearly repented, earlier in the day he too had mocked the Lord Jesus, but some how during the day he had a change of heart, perhaps it was the Saviours gracious words, ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’. Perhaps it was the events at Calvary like that unnatural darkness that shrouded the earth that day. I don’t know what changed his mind but God by his Spirit drew him and he repented. Not only did he repent but also he exercised faith in Christ. His short prayer shows us that he recognised who Christ is; he is the King of Kings. He threw his faith on Christ and cried ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.’ At that very moment he found the promise of scripture to be true ‘Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved’. For just then the Saviour replied ‘Today shalt thou be with me in paradise’.
What an act of pardoning grace, it was all of grace nothing of works. This man when he got to paradise had no works to boast in, he was just a rotten criminal saved by God’s Grace. You know it’s the same for us all, anyone who is saved is saved by an act of God’s Grace based on their repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, it is nothing to do with any good work that we have or will do. We must come the same way the thief did.
‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;’ Titus 3 v5
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