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.
Romans 4:13-25
Saved by Grace though Faith
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world,but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Luke 23:26-43
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.”
St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, writes that we are save by grace, through our faith...And again he writes to the Romans about Abraham and we are told that Abraham was credited with righteousness...Therefore, the promise comes from God comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are under of the Law of Moses, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham...Abraham is the father of us all...As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”...He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not...Abraham had great faith in God...
Abraham had faith what God told Him and was telling him was true...And by following God, Abraham showed his faith...And by having this faith and showing his faith in God, others learned about faith...Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise and covenant that God had with him, but Abraham was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God...And being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised -Abraham believed...This is why “it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”...The words are “it was credited to him” were written not for Abraham alone but also to his descendants and to us...God will credit us with righteousness with our faith...Those that will be credited with this righteousness are those who believe in His Son...And for us who believe in His Father, who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead...Jesus was delivered over to death because of our sins and was raised to life and resurrected for our justification....And justification is granted to all who exercise faith in God and His Son, and that grace and this justification is a gift from God...
This gift from God for having faith in Him and His Son is shown the day they hung Jesus from the cross...There were two criminals being crucified near the cross where Jesus was hanging...One criminal hurled insults toward Jesus...The other criminal rebuked the criminal insulting Jesus..."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."...This criminal recognized his failings and his sins...This criminal admitted to Jesus that he and his fellow criminal would die and were getting what they deserved...Then the criminal said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”...Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”
This criminal confessed to Jesus his sins, and had faith in Him...He feared God...And that day, he would be with Jesus in paradise...The criminal did not have time to do any good deeds as he was dying on the cross...His faith in Jesus got Him to paradise...And by the grace of God, the confessing criminal gets to heaven...