The Cost of the KingdomSample

ACCEPT GRACE!

MAIN IDEAS

• One of the most special scenes in the event of the crucifixion of JESUS is the one about the salvation of the thief.

• As JESUS died on the cross, He prayed for those who were crucifying Him, as well as for the people present, who did not understand what was going on.

• Religious leaders, passers-by, and soldiers all mocked Him, but one of the criminals crucified with JESUS believed that He was the Son of God and received salvation without having to do anything.

A rather difficult price to pay when someone wants to receive salvation and enter the Kingdom is to accept grace. Grace or divine favor means receiving an undeserved gift from God, free of charge, for which there is no possible way we can ever pay. People find it easier to be asked to do something in return – especially those who have some connection to religion – but to receive salvation for free, by grace, seems a lot to them.

The salvation of the thief on the cross is an event that defines grace. As the time approached when JESUS would give up His spirit, one of the criminals being crucified with Him is enlightened and realizes that JESUS is the Son of God and that He can save him. He only made a few declarations of faith and was saved by JESUS. First, he confessed that he had done evil things and that he deserved the punishment he was receiving. He then acknowledged that JESUS could save him, as sinful as he was. Without deeds, without baptism in water, without merit, and sinful as he was, JESUS saves him, making the thief the first fruit of JESUS’ sufferings.

This is GRACE in all its splendor. Forgiveness by grace can be received by anyone, anywhere, and under any conditions and very quickly if there is honesty, humility, and repentance through faith in JESUS. The thief received entry into the Kingdom, by grace. It is true that had his life not ended right then, he would have had to accept and live up to the principles of the Kingdom, as JESUS lived them and taught them to the disciples for three and a half years. This principle brings the world a new and blessed hope. If a criminal has been received in those most pitiful final moments of his life, when nobody could have seen a hope of salvation for him, it means that you too have a chance of salvation, no matter how low you have fallen.