Grace and Salvation: The Thief's Testament

Devotional

Day 1: Grace for the Undeserving

The story of the thief on the cross is a profound illustration of God's grace, which extends even to those who have not lived a righteous life. This narrative challenges the notion that salvation is earned through good deeds, emphasizing instead that it is a gift from God to the undeserving. The thief, despite his past, was promised paradise by Jesus, not because of his actions but because of Jesus' grace. This truth offers hope to all, as it reminds us that none of us are good enough on our own to earn God's approval. Instead, we are invited to receive His grace, which is freely given to those who believe. [00:39]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt undeserving of forgiveness or grace. How can you embrace the truth that God's grace is a gift, not something you have to earn?

Day 2: The Unattainable Standard

The commandments, such as loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, set a standard that none of us can fully meet. This realization points us to the uniqueness of Jesus, who alone lived a life pleasing to God. Our inability to meet these standards highlights our need for a savior. Jesus' life was the fulfillment of these commandments, and His sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of love and obedience. By acknowledging our shortcomings, we are drawn to rely on Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled the law on our behalf. [01:08]

Romans 3:23-24 (ESV): "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Identify one commandment or standard you struggle to meet. How can you rely on Jesus' fulfillment of the law to find peace and assurance in your spiritual journey?

Day 3: The Finished Work of Christ

Jesus' declaration, "It is finished," signifies the completion of His perfect life and His role as our sin bearer. He carried our sins into His death, ensuring that we do not carry them into ours. This act of love and sacrifice is the foundation of our hope and salvation. By trusting in the finished work of Christ, we are freed from the burden of trying to earn God's approval through our efforts. Instead, we can rest in the assurance that Jesus has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. [01:48]

Hebrews 10:12-14 (ESV): "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you feel burdened by the need to prove yourself. How can you rest in the truth that Jesus' work on the cross is complete and sufficient?

Day 4: Hope Beyond Ourselves

Our hope is not in our ability to live a good life but in Jesus' promise and sacrifice. This shift in focus from our inadequacies to Christ's sufficiency is the beginning of true life change. It is a call to trust in His grace rather than our efforts. By placing our hope in Jesus, we are invited to experience a transformation that is rooted in His love and power, rather than our own strength. This hope is a source of comfort and assurance, reminding us that we are not alone in our journey of faith. [02:05]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you feel inadequate. How can you shift your focus from your own limitations to the sufficiency of Christ's grace?

Day 5: The Transformative Power of Grace

Understanding that our salvation is rooted in Jesus' grace and not our deeds is transformative. It liberates us from the burden of trying to earn God's approval and invites us into a relationship based on trust and gratitude. This grace is the catalyst for genuine life change, as it empowers us to live in freedom and joy. By embracing the transformative power of grace, we are able to experience a deeper connection with God and a renewed sense of purpose in our lives. [02:16]

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: Reflect on a specific area of your life where you have been striving to earn approval. How can you embrace the freedom and transformation that comes from trusting in God's grace?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound story of the thief on the cross, a narrative that challenges the common belief that entry into heaven is earned through a life of good deeds. This story is a powerful testament to the grace and mercy of God, who saves the ungodly. The thief, who lived a life far from righteous, found himself promised a place in paradise by Jesus. This promise was not based on the thief's deeds but on the grace of Jesus Christ, who declared, "Today you'll be with me in paradise."

This narrative underscores a critical truth: none of us are good enough on our own to earn God's approval. Even the most devout among us fall short of the commandments, such as loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This realization highlights the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, the only one who lived a life truly pleasing to God. His life and sacrifice on the cross were the fulfillment of a perfect life and the bearing of our sins, offering hope to all who believe.

The thief's story is a beacon of hope, illustrating that salvation is not about our goodness but about Jesus' promise and sacrifice. It is a reminder that our hope is not in ourselves but in Christ, who completed the work of salvation on the cross. This understanding is the beginning of real life change, as it shifts our focus from our inadequacies to the sufficiency of Christ's grace.

Key Takeaways

1. Grace for the Ungodly: The story of the thief on the cross reveals that God's grace extends to those who have not lived a righteous life. It is a reminder that salvation is not earned by our deeds but is a gift from God to the undeserving. This truth offers hope to all, as none of us are good enough on our own. [00:39]
2. The Unattainable Standard: The commandments, such as loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, set a standard that none of us can fully meet. This realization points us to the uniqueness of Jesus, who alone lived a life pleasing to God. Our inability to meet these standards highlights our need for a savior. [01:08]
3. The Finished Work of Christ: Jesus' declaration, "It is finished," signifies the completion of His perfect life and His role as our sin bearer. He carried our sins into His death, ensuring that we do not carry them into ours. This act of love and sacrifice is the foundation of our hope and salvation. [01:48]
4. Hope Beyond Ourselves: Our hope is not in our ability to live a good life but in Jesus' promise and sacrifice. This shift in focus from our inadequacies to Christ's sufficiency is the beginning of true life change. It is a call to trust in His grace rather than our efforts. [02:05]
5. The Transformative Power of Grace: Understanding that our salvation is rooted in Jesus' grace and not our deeds is transformative. It liberates us from the burden of trying to earn God's approval and invites us into a relationship based on trust and gratitude. This grace is the catalyst for genuine life change. [02:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - The World's Message vs. God's Grace
[00:27] - The Thief's Story: A Testament to Grace
[00:39] - Salvation for the Ungodly
[00:53] - The Unattainable Commandments
[01:08] - Jesus' Unique Life
[01:19] - The Promise of Jesus
[01:32] - The Finished Work on the Cross
[01:48] - Hope in Christ's Sacrifice
[02:05] - Beginning of Real Life Change
[02:16] - Invitation to Grace

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the thief's situation on the cross, and what did Jesus promise him? (Luke 23:39-43)
How does the sermon describe the thief's life before his encounter with Jesus? [00:27]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' statement, "It is finished"? [01:48]
What commandments are mentioned in the sermon, and why are they considered unattainable by humans? [00:53]

Interpretation Questions

How does the story of the thief on the cross illustrate the concept of grace for the ungodly? [00:39]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' life was unique compared to ours? [01:19]
What does the sermon imply about the role of human effort in achieving salvation? [02:05]
How does understanding Jesus' finished work on the cross change the way believers view their own shortcomings? [01:48]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of God's grace. How does the story of the thief on the cross offer you hope? [00:39]
The sermon mentions the unattainable standard of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. What practical steps can you take to grow in your love for God this week? [00:53]
How can you shift your focus from trying to earn God's approval to trusting in the sufficiency of Christ's grace? [02:05]
In what ways can you remind yourself daily of the finished work of Christ and its implications for your life? [01:48]
Consider someone in your life who may feel undeserving of grace. How can you share the message of hope and salvation with them this week? [00:39]
How does understanding that salvation is a gift change your perspective on your relationship with God and others? [02:16]
What specific actions can you take to live out the transformative power of grace in your community? [02:16]

Sermon Clips

Colin so often the message that this world seems to be sending us is if you live a good enough life maybe you can make your way into heaven that that's what it's going to take for approval and the stories pointing out just the opposite yeah it really is because there's no way in the world that the thief was good enough I mean he was dying on the cross because he's a thief he's not lived a good life and that's why this is such an important story this is telling us about someone who did not live a good life getting into heaven and Jesus says today you'll be with me in paradise God saves people who are ungodly now that's what gives hope because actually none of us are good enough if you really take the life that God has called us to live seriously. [00:14:83]

I mean even just take the 10 commandments the first one love God with all your heart Jesus says that's the first commandment with all of your heart your soul and your mind in your strength who's done that for even one day with everything that's within me no we haven't done that we have not kept the commandments none of us even had our best has done that that's why Jesus Christ is unique only he has lived a life that's really pleasing to God so actually when you see that we're all in this category of not being good enough that's what brings the thief story to life. [00:57:50]

How does a person who hasn't lived a good enough life get into heaven and it's because of the promise of Jesus and Jesus was the one who dying on the cross said it is finished and what he had finished was he had completed living a perfect life but none of us has lived and he was completing the process of dying as our sin bearer bearing the sins that that we have committed so that he carried them into his death so that none of us in him would carry them into ours that's hope and it's hope for every person. [01:02:52]

Actually it's the beginning of real life change when we come to see that our hope Snowdon or so but it's in Jesus you know that's a truth that is pointed out so well in this book heaven how I got here the story of the thief on the cross and you can get a copy by coming to our website unlocking the Bible dot org. [01:29:22]

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