Simply By Grace Podcast

What does a dying criminal, with no opportunity to be baptized, do good works, reform his life, or prove his faithfulness, teach us about salvation? In this episode of Simply by Grace, we look at one of the clearest and most powerful pictures of God’s grace in the New Testament—the salvation of the thief on the cross. As Jesus hung dying between two criminals, one continued to mock Him, while the other recognized his own guilt, acknowledged Jesus’ innocence, and turned to Him in simple faith: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus responded with an astonishing promise: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” What did this man do to receive eternal life—and, just as importantly, what did he not do? His story strips away many of the requirements people sometimes add to the gospel and brings us back to the simplicity of God’s grace. The thief could offer Jesus nothing but faith, yet Jesus offered him everything in a future with Him. His story reminds us that no sinner is beyond the reach of God’s grace and that salvation is available to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior.