And he [the penitent thief] said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
This penitent thief’s prayer is the last recorded prayer
under the Old Covenant and the first recorded prayer of the New Covenant. It is altogether fitting that it should be
the model of faith and grace. This
prayer contains the elements of true repentance and salvation (adapted from Dr.
John MacArthur’s Study Bible note).
·
He believed the soul lives on after death
·
He believed Christ had the right to rule over a
Kingdom of the souls of men
·
He believed Christ would soon enter that Kingdom
despite His impending death
·
His request to be remembered was a plea for
mercy
·
He understood that he (the thief) had no hope apart
from divine grace
·
He understood that dispensing grace lay in Jesus’
power
·
His prayer demonstrates true faith on the part
of the dying thief
·
Jesus rewarded that request, and that thief has
been in the paradise of God ever since
In this one verse and its context is the complete picture of
salvation! It could not be more simple
or profound. There is no better expression of faith, and faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to the Kingdom.
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