INSTANT SALVATION

Luke 23: 39-43(NIV)

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him. “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God” he said. Since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him; I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

COMMENT

I thank the Almighty God for making salvation simple so that no human being will miss it unless they are too young to comprehend or mentally challenged to understand the message.

To young children, it is the faith of the parent or  the guardian that matters in case of their salvation. To prove this, the children in Sodom and Gomorrah perished with their parents yet they were not sinning as their parents.

The thief on the cross was promised salvation by Jesus Christ just the same time he believed and confessed his faith in the Saviour. On expressing his faith in saving ability by Jesus, he said, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Jesus in answering the thief’s prayer, said, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

This is the example of instant salvation. The thief had no time to do good things to earn salvation as wrongly taught by some churches. He just believed in Jesus and instantly his faith was credited to him as righteousness. Romans 4:3. His identity changed; from thief to saint and he was already on his way to paradise with Jesus.

 On the cross Jesus had already done everything that was required for salvation and that is why he said, “It is finished.” We are not supposed to do any work except expressing our faith in the person of Jesus Christ and his completed work on the cross.

Despite the change in his identity, the thief's legs were deliberately broken by the Roman soldiers before he died in order to hasten his death and teach him a lesson or two according to God’s wisdom. God punishes those he accepts as sons. See Hebrews 12:5-6. The thief, (now saint) suffered for the evil he had committed despite his forgiveness and assurance of a place in paradise. 

Forgiveness of sins and salvation point to the future but consequences of the crime committed must be faced while still on earth. Suffering is therefore  mandatory and the reason should be understood and accepted. David suffered the consequences of his sins even after his painful confession and complete forgiveness by God. See 2 Samuel 12:10-13.

Repentance and forgiveness provide eternal life but cannot remove the suffering for the sins committed. As long as the forgiven man is alive and had committed sins before or after salvation, will suffer the consequences but his identity as a saint will not change. He should suffer in enjoyment. He is still on the way to heaven as long as he has not denounced the Lord Jesus and his salvation.

Thank you Holy Spirit for sustaining us even when suffering for the negative and foolish things we engage in, when we are still in this difficult life on earth. Shalom!