I’m Saved Like the Criminal on the Cross

I’ve spent a decent amount of time recently dwelling on the cross of Christ, His seven final words/phrases quoted in the four Gospels. Here’s the traditional order:

1.    1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

2.  2. [the subject of this post]

3.  3.  “Woman, behold thy son, behold thy mother.” (John 19:26-27)

4.  4. “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; quoted from Psalm 22:1)

5.  5.  “I thirst.” (John 19:28)

6.  6.  “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

7.  7.  “Into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” (Luke 23:46; quoted from Psalm 31:5)

The words I want to focus on in this post are the words said to the penitent thief on the cross next to Jesus. The Bible talks about a thief hanging on either side of Him. Unlike Christ, though, these thieves were guilty of the crime(s) that placed them on these instruments of torture; and they deserved the painful death they received along with our Lord.

The gospel of Matthew says they were both jeering at Jesus along with the crowd (save yourself, prove your divinity, etc.; Mt. 27:44), but Luke seemingly took a page from Paul Harvey and told “the rest of the story.” (Maybe Paul Harvey was imitating Luke?)

Luke 23:39-43 – One of the criminals continued jeering as before, but the other switched from jeering to rebuking his fellow thief (and I believe speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and out of a newly regenerated heart): “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 in great faith and penitence, asks Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom. Jesus’s words: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Heaven!

Don’t be immature in your thinking about this. Jesus had every right to reply, “Are you kidding Me? Surely you know what you did. You’re going to Hell where you belong!” It would be spiritual justice served. And he died the death He deserved to die by execution, but in his slow and excruciatingly painful path to death he graciously received a front row seat for his everlasting redemption. He witnessed Christ giving up the ghost, thus observing his eternal salvation completely secured by his Savior (“It is finished”). Upon his eventual dying breath, “Absent from the body…present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

Such is the case for people who trust in Christ for salvation on their death beds. It’s impossible to count how many souls have prayed to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord between gasps, coughs, hard swallows. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing this before, and it is both difficult and joyous to watch. Slow and painful deaths are without a doubt much harder to experience than witness; but when this happens, it can mercifully act as a wake-up call from God. It's a final chance to be graciously saved!

With that said, please don’t wait until the last moment for salvation. Two family members close to my age (mid-40s) have passed away in the last few weeks, and (in one case) it was hard to figure out if she understood her need for salvation because she was in and out. Please take this in love: You are not guaranteed lucidity on your death bed. You may be in a medically-induced coma, or you may die suddenly. We do not know the day and the circumstances of our final moments in this life. That’s why the Bible says, “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

Whether we’ve been believers for several seconds or several decades, eternal life is a gift of God. The longer we’re believers, so much more the unimaginable mercy and indelible grace we have to strengthen our faith, to grow in our relationship with Him. Whatever your current situation, do not put off salvation—do not put off growing in your relationship with God! 

Psalm 32:1-2 – “Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

For more information about salvation, click here.

Do you need even more information? Contact me at dancalkinsmusic@gmail.com.

In Christ Alone,

Dan