Calvinists tell us that we have to look at our lives and look to our good works for assurance of salvation. Salvation is not a sure thing for them because they never know if they have been good enough to make it. But did Jesus tell the thief on the cross that he must go and do good works for assurance of salvation? Did Jesus tell the thief on the cross that he couldn't have assurance because there was no time for him to reform his life and establish “some patterns of conduct”[1] as evidence of being born again? Did Jesus tell the thief on the cross that he had to “continue in the faith”[2] in order to have assurance of salvation? Did Jesus tell the thief on the cross that assurance is secured by “keeping His commandments”?[3] Did Jesus make fruit-bearing a basis for assurance? Did Jesus say that a change in life was required? Did Jesus tell the thief on the cross that assurance of salvation “comes from various kinds of evidence in a person's life”?[4] The answer to all these questions is: “No!” In other words, Jesus gave none of the Calvinistic requirements for assurance of salvation! Let that sink in. But what did Jesus say? Jesus gave the thief on the cross a simple promise: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43, NKJV). That was the assurance given to the thief on the cross. So the thief's assurance of salvation was based on the promise of Jesus, not looking at his own life nor to his good works. In other words, the thief on the cross got assurance of salvation by “looking unto Jesus” (Heb. 12:2) and taking God at His Word!
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Charlie Bing of GraceLife Ministries has well said: “What did the thief on the cross promise Jesus when he said, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom’? And Jesus replied, ‘Today you will be with Me in paradise.’ Could the thief walk an aisle? No, his feet were fastened to a cross. Could he raise his hand? No, his hands were tied or nailed to the cross. Could he be baptized? No, the cross would have floated. Did he promise Jesus anything? No. Did Jesus demand anything of him? No. Salvation by grace through faith means there is hope for a dying man, for someone who can do nothing for himself.”[5]
Even John MacArthur has admitted: “How did the thief on the cross know he was saved? He had the Lord’s own promise.”[6]
References:
[1] Wayne Grudem, “Free Grace” Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway Publishers, 2016), p. 79.
[2] Ibid., p. 89.
[3] Ibid., p. 91.
[4] Ibid., p. 89, emphasis his.
[5] Charlie Bing, “Why Lordship Faith Misses the Mark for Salvation” (Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Spring 1999).
[6] John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus, Revised and Expanded Anniversary Edition (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), p. 272.
The thief on the cross had good works. He warned the other thief on the cross, which is a work of love.
ReplyDeleteVery true. I was waiting for someone to bring that up. Notice that I didn't say otherwise. I agree that the thief on the cross had good works, or at least spiritual fruit. But that wasn't the point I was making in the article. The point I was making is that Jesus didn't tell the thief on the cross to look to the fruit in his life for assurance. Your observation actually strengthens the point I was making because now it is all the more striking that Jesus never tells him to look at the fruit in his life for assurance!
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