Have you ever read the account in Luke 23 about the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus? In Luke 23:39-43 (NIV), one of the thieves hurled insults at Jesus. He mockingly shouted, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Why don’t you save yourself and us?” But the other thief, realized that he was in the presence of the Lord and rebuked the angry thief: “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” In faith, the repentant thief then turned to Jesus and asked the Lord to remember him when He came into His kingdom.

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The repentant thief didn’t have to beg, fast, or accomplish any work to earn his salvation. His life up to that time had been lost in sin, but in one moment, he was ushered into paradise. Many think that salvation is complicated, when all it really takes is faith and true repentance. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).