not one thread of human devising in it

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: Redwood

Thief on the Cross

God realizes that the thief on the cross heard of Jesus and accepted him only in the last hours of his life. God holds us responsible according to our own knowledge and opportunities, not the knowledge and opportunities that other people have.

Remember the parable of the men hired to work in the vineyard. Some workers received the same payment even though they only worked for a few minutes. What does that have to do with those of us who were "hired" much earlier in the day?

To the person to whom God gives much, much will be required.

The point is that the thief put all of his faith in Christ and in His promise. We don't know any more than that. We can be sure there was a change in his life from that moment on. Even the Roman centurion who watched Jesus die said, "Surely this was a good man." If it affected the Roman officer that way, you can be certain it would have had a great affect on the thief who ended up putting all his faith in Christ.

Thank you John. Exactly my point. I appreicate you making it for me. Please remember this for future reference.

[John317]

Originally Posted By: John317

God realizes that the thief on the cross heard of Jesus and accepted him only in the last hours of his life. God holds us responsible according to our own knowledge and opportunities' date=' not the knowledge and opportunities that other people have.

Remember the parable of the men hired to work in the vineyard. Some workers received the same payment even though they only worked for a few minutes. What does that have to do with those of us who were "hired" much earlier in the day?

To the person to whom God gives much, much will be required.

The point is that the thief put all of his faith in Christ and in His promise. We don't know any more than that. We can be sure there was a change in his life from that moment on. Even the Roman centurion who watched Jesus die said, "Surely this was a good man." If it affected the Roman officer that way, you can be certain it would have had a great affect on the thief who ended up putting all his faith in Christ.

[/quote']

Thank you John. Exactly my point. I appreicate you making it for me. Please remember this for future reference.

If you go back over my posts, you will find that I have never been saying anything else but this. This makes me wonder if maybe you misunderstood what I said before or if maybe you you are misunderstanding what I am saying now. Not sure.

But in any case, glad you agree.

[skyblue888]

Good points John. Well said.

Now I am going to share a few statements that, when read together, make the Gospel of the merits of Christ the one interest that should prevail and the subject that should swallow up every other.

"I ask, How can I present this matter as it is? The Lord Jesus imparts all the powers, all the grace, all the repentance, all the inclination, all the pardon of sins, in presenting His righteousness for man to grasp by living faith." Faith and Works, p.24.

This statement clearly says that Christ accomplishes everything but before He can do for us all that is mentioned in the statement above, we must grasp His righteousness by living faith.

Does inspiration tell us what "living faith" is? In the same book, on page 64 we read:

"Living faith is essential for our salvation, that we should lay hold upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, the merits of Christ our righteousness."

On the next page, we read, "Well then, what is our position? It must be a position of living faith." p.65.

On page 72, we read these words:

"I must teach others how to be lifted from the sinful state I was in and to grasp by living faith the righteousness that is in Christ Jesus. That is the only way the sinner can be saved."

"Unless he makes it his lifebusiness to behold the uplifted Saviour and to accept His merits which it is his privilege to claim, the sinner can no more be saved than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily on Jesus." Testimonies to Ministers, p.93.

"Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His merits, we appropriate the blessings of light and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Testimonies, Vol.5, p.744.

See what I have done? I have followed the counsel given in Selected Messages, Vol.1, p.42 to compare statement with statement in order to arrive at the truth.

"The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the messages given, as Scripture is explained by Scripture."

God bless you with the righteousness of Christ as you lay hold by faith of His all-sufficient merits. And let us not forget that "We must daily apply to the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour that we may become vessels fit for the Master's use." Faith and Works, p.86.

sky