Ocean of Grace (19): SUNDAY – The Stars Were Confounded (p68ff)

 Lent Book: https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/an-ocean-of-grace

 

My jottings:

 

(Comments welcome)

 

Ocean of Grace (19): SUNDAY – The Stars Were Confounded (p68ff)

 

We might think of the dying thief as a striking recipient of Christ’s grace (Luke 24). The thief acknowledges that by being crucified, he is receiving what his deeds deserve whereas Jesus has done nothing wrong. The guilty criminal is getting justice but he is promised grace, paradise. The thief has no good works to offer Christ. He can literally do nothing to earn his salvation or to repay Jesus since he is nailed to a cross. He is a striking demonstration of salvation by grace along through faith alone. He prays, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Salvation, mercy and forgiveness are only ever a prayer away. We can be sure of heaven if we will but look to Jesus in faith.

 

On the great exchange of the cross, we might meditate on:

 

2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him [Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

 

Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment that our sin deserved so that we might be righteous and acquitted in God’s sight. God credits our sin to Jesus and Jesus’ spotless perfect righteousness to us.

 

Hymn: it is finished! The messiah dies

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAdzDk43YRU

 

Words etc.: https://www.music-ministry.org/hymns/it-is-finished/