Friday, March 7, 2008
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Luke 23:42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE *ETERNAL LIFE*
These words represent the clearest possible evidence that we are saved by faith in Christ alone -- and not by any work or merit of our own.
The dying thief openly admitted that, unlike Jesus, he had lived a life worthy of crucifixion. His "death bed" reprimand of the unbelieving fellow on the other side of the innocent Jesus -- could hardly atone for a lifetime of sin and evil. Yet Jesus Himself promised this man eternal life. Why? How? On what basis? The only possible answer is the very gospel itself. The righteousness that each one of us needs in order to be acceptable to God is credited to us through faith in the beloved Son whom the Father in love gave for our redemption. The dying thief believed that Jesus was who He said He was -- and it was that faith, rather than any goodness of his own, that was regarded by the Righteous Judge as perfect holiness.
What this means for each of us, in practical terms, is that the blackest sins of our most terrible past have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb of God. There is no record so foul that Jesus has not wiped it clean, no sin so terrible that God has not forgiven it for the sake of His Son, no sinner that cannot be rescued eternally. It is never too late -- not while we are still living -- for the Holy Spirit to use the good news of God's love in Christ to turn us to the Lord Jesus and thereby save us. It is unbelief alone that can condemn us. Jesus proved this fact when he spoke the words to the dying thief next to Him, spoke the same message he has spoken to us even today:
"Today, paradise belongs to you!"
