Ephesians 2:1-10
Saved by Grace through Faith
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Luke 23:26-43
Jesus and the Two Criminals
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’30 Then
“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!”’
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus is on the cross and has two criminals on two other crosses...I love that this story is in the Bible, because it gives me great hope of my flaws and my sins...The story of the criminal acknowledging Jesus is a great example of being saved by grace...
We know nothing of the two criminals, except by what we read here...Two other men were near to Jesus and both were hanging from crosses...Both criminals, were also led out with Him to be executed...When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals—one on His right, the other on his left...Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”...And they divided up His clothes by casting lots...The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him...They said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”...The soldiers also came up and mocked Him...They offered Him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”...There was a written notice above Jesus, which read: this is the King of the Jews...One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: “Aren't you the Messiah?...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 the criminal, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”...The criminal was saved by the Grace of God...