Pure Grace Exemplified (2)

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In a previous post Pure Grace Exemplified (1), we saw how Barabbas enjoyed God's grace in its pureness. We saw that he was totally oblivious to and uninvolved in the 'work' that led to his release even though he was condemned to die.

Further, there is a slight difference between the account of Barabbas and what transpired later that same fateful day on the cross between Jesus and the two thieves crucified with Him (Luke 23:32, 39-43). Therefore, in this post, a distinction is made between the case of Barabbas and the two thieves (particularly the one who entered into paradise).

Firstly, according to the details of the law (Deut 21:22), these thieves were deserving of death by hanging, and so they were rightly crucified. However, they were crucified along side One who, in contrast, didn't deserve to be crucified. Moreover, from the way they spoke to Jesus, it is possible to extrapolate their temperaments. This is necessary to further our understanding of their respective fates. We seek to present why one of them entered into paradise while the other didn't. They were both thieves and were at the point of a very justifiable death, but within minutes, one of them was translated from eternal condemnation to eternal life with Christ in Paradise while the other wasn't. Again, they were both in the presence of Jesus - the supplier of Grace - so they both had equal chances of receiving grace and being saved on a platter of gold. Yet, while one of them maximized his unique opportunity, the other made a total mess of it.

The first thief that spoke to Jesus blasphemed Him saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” (Luke 23:39). This reveals that he was impenitent, cruel and vicious. He was a criminal at heart, controlling, unforgiving and merciless.
In contrast, the other thief was penitent of his actions. He was probably not a criminal at heart. He probably wasn't happy being a thief. He probably wanted to stop but the other (impenitent) thief, being controlling (the boss), probably wouldn't let him. He obviously was at conflict within for a long time, and it showed in the way he spoke (remorsefully and compassionately) to Jesus.

Therefore, we see from this account that while Barabbas was totally oblivious to and uninvolved in the saving grace of Jesus (he didn't even need to say anything), the impenitent thief rejected grace by blaspheming Jesus, while the penitent thief however, responded to grace by rebuking his friend, admitting that they deserved punishment (unlike Jesus), recognizing Jesus as his Lord and then going a step further to place his faith on Jesus' ability to "remember" him in paradise. In other words, he acknowledged the fact that Jesus had power to save him, so he asked to be saved. And this is typical of what we do when we say the "sinner's prayer". We admit our sin and need for a saviour, we confess Jesus as our Saviour, and then we believe or put our faith in His saving power and then we are saved (Rom 10:9-10). Since Jesus hung on a cross, we need to respond in faith to His saving grace. This is the fine line between the case of Barabbas and the two thieves. Barabbas didn't need to respond to grace while the thieves needed to. One did and was saved.  It is important to note that personality differences presents no hindrance to us receiving grace. The hindrances are unbelief and trying to earn it by the works of the law. Irrespective of differences, we all can respond in faith to grace. Grace requires a response from us, and the response is that of faith, not works. As the scripture says in Rom 11:6 "And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work". Work is not the right response to grace, faith is. When we attempt to earn grace by the works of the law, we place a stumbling block on our justification. But when we respond by faith to God's grace, we receive the gift of righteousness so we can reign in life.

Finally, brethren, we need to respond in faith to God's grace for by grace you have been saved through faith (Eph 2:8). God bless you!

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