The Evangelist on the Cross
"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 23:42-43
This post is about the fruit of saving faith. The thief on the cross didn't do anything to merit salvation except make a confession of faith, that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God would raise Him from the dead (Rom 10:9-10). Christ is the true sabbath and when we by faith enter into His rest we cease from our own works (Heb 4:10). What I understand this to mean is that I cease striving to be perfect, to establish myself upon a basis of righteousness by my own works. I cease from trying to justify myself because Jesus has justified me by His shed blood and resurrection from the dead. Instead God's grace will be with me and it will be His grace that does the truly meaningful or "living" works. This is the only way to do what are truly good works and it is only through faith in Christ. This is one reason we need Jesus, because without Him we are only doing dead works that we erroneously THINK are good. It is also why the Scripture says of men still striving to justify themselves, "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). It is tremendous rest when we really get hold of this message and STOP trying to justify ourselves but instead rely on the finished work of Christ.
The thief on the cross is an excellent example of this. People often like to say that he was saved without works, as part of a different argument, and I agree, he didn't pass out tracts or help the poor or even pray for the sick (probably). But the works of God's grace flow from saving faith. The purpose of this post, once again, is to show how fruitful a person resting in Christ is.
Here is the point: this thief on the cross who did 'nothing', is one of the greatest all-time evangelists. Thousands and thousands of people no doubt have been saved by his witness. He is especially gifted as an evangelist to those condemned to die, the helpless, and the hopeless.
"For for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." 1 Peter 4:6
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" Eph 4:11
He confessed Jesus Christ and rested on the assurance of Christ, "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Lk 23:43). So what can account for the effectiveness of his witness to thousands if not millions in succeeding generations? The grace of God at work, at work through him in his confession, at work through the witnesses who told the story, at work through Luke the physician who carefully sought out these witnesses and recorded their testimony.
It's not by our power or our wisdom that men are saved or any good works are done but it is the grace of God with us that accomplishes the good. Nevertheless, these good deeds are graciously reckoned to us as deserving of reward. This is what I believe Paul is saying in this verse:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Cor 15:10
Paul worked but it wasn't his power or wisdom that accomplished fruitfulness, much like how a farmer sows seed and if he doesn't sow seed there isn't going to be a harvest. The farmer can also sow good seed or bad seed. He also waters the seed. All these things are important and necessary to the result. But the farmer isn't the one who makes the seed sprout and grow and ultimately bear fruit. He doesn't even know how that happens. So the farmer has a role to play but it isn't by his power or wisdom that the crop grows to harvest.
In the same way, Christians have a role to play in bearing fruit unto God, but it is God's grace that works in an unknown way to cause the seed to sprout, grow, and bear fruit. Without His grace our works would be akin to a farmer planting and watering dead seeds.
We need to see therefore that His grace makes all the difference and His grace is with us as we walk by faith in Jesus Christ. Let us never willfully or forgetfully turn away from Jesus Christ and so become unfruitful unto God.
This post is about the fruit of saving faith. The thief on the cross didn't do anything to merit salvation except make a confession of faith, that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God would raise Him from the dead (Rom 10:9-10). Christ is the true sabbath and when we by faith enter into His rest we cease from our own works (Heb 4:10). What I understand this to mean is that I cease striving to be perfect, to establish myself upon a basis of righteousness by my own works. I cease from trying to justify myself because Jesus has justified me by His shed blood and resurrection from the dead. Instead God's grace will be with me and it will be His grace that does the truly meaningful or "living" works. This is the only way to do what are truly good works and it is only through faith in Christ. This is one reason we need Jesus, because without Him we are only doing dead works that we erroneously THINK are good. It is also why the Scripture says of men still striving to justify themselves, "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). It is tremendous rest when we really get hold of this message and STOP trying to justify ourselves but instead rely on the finished work of Christ.
The thief on the cross is an excellent example of this. People often like to say that he was saved without works, as part of a different argument, and I agree, he didn't pass out tracts or help the poor or even pray for the sick (probably). But the works of God's grace flow from saving faith. The purpose of this post, once again, is to show how fruitful a person resting in Christ is.
Here is the point: this thief on the cross who did 'nothing', is one of the greatest all-time evangelists. Thousands and thousands of people no doubt have been saved by his witness. He is especially gifted as an evangelist to those condemned to die, the helpless, and the hopeless.
"For for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." 1 Peter 4:6
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" Eph 4:11
He confessed Jesus Christ and rested on the assurance of Christ, "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Lk 23:43). So what can account for the effectiveness of his witness to thousands if not millions in succeeding generations? The grace of God at work, at work through him in his confession, at work through the witnesses who told the story, at work through Luke the physician who carefully sought out these witnesses and recorded their testimony.
It's not by our power or our wisdom that men are saved or any good works are done but it is the grace of God with us that accomplishes the good. Nevertheless, these good deeds are graciously reckoned to us as deserving of reward. This is what I believe Paul is saying in this verse:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Cor 15:10
Paul worked but it wasn't his power or wisdom that accomplished fruitfulness, much like how a farmer sows seed and if he doesn't sow seed there isn't going to be a harvest. The farmer can also sow good seed or bad seed. He also waters the seed. All these things are important and necessary to the result. But the farmer isn't the one who makes the seed sprout and grow and ultimately bear fruit. He doesn't even know how that happens. So the farmer has a role to play but it isn't by his power or wisdom that the crop grows to harvest.
In the same way, Christians have a role to play in bearing fruit unto God, but it is God's grace that works in an unknown way to cause the seed to sprout, grow, and bear fruit. Without His grace our works would be akin to a farmer planting and watering dead seeds.
We need to see therefore that His grace makes all the difference and His grace is with us as we walk by faith in Jesus Christ. Let us never willfully or forgetfully turn away from Jesus Christ and so become unfruitful unto God.
