Due Punishment

Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

41 καὶ ἡμεῖς μὲν δικαίως, ἄξια γὰρ ὧν ἐπράξαμεν ἀπολαμβάνομεν· οὗτος δὲ οὐδὲν ἄτοπον ἔπραξεν.

This statement was made by the repentant thief on the cross.  Jesus was crucified between two convicted men.  One continued to mock Him, but the other came to faith at the end.  This statement gets to the very heart of Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross.

We don't use the word "atone" much in our society.  The idea is to cover something up.  One illustration would be for the bank to call you one day and tell you that your mortgage is forgiven.  That would mean that your mortgage was covered up.

A much more poignant example is shown by this thief on the cross.  He was justly convicted for his crime.  He knew it and he confessed it (καὶ ἡμεῖς μὲν δικαίως).  However, he was stuck on a cross and there was absolutely nothing he could do to save himself.  He realized that.  He needed Jesus to save Him.

We are in the same predicament.  We cannot save ourselves.  No amount of good works can save us.  I don't care how good of a swimmer you are, but if you go west from Los Angeles you are never going to make it to Hawaii.  You may get a good ways out, but Hawaii is so far away that it is impossible to do.  The same is true of  the chasm that stands between us and God.  We need Christ to bring us to Him.

Are you ready to stop swimming and to embrace Jesus' free gift of grace?