Modern day culture often trumpets humanistic views about heaven. Have you ever heard or thought about some of these claims?
“Only good people get into heaven”
“Certain races are not worthy to go to heaven and should be annihilated”
“Your good works need to outweigh your bad works to have a chance of going to heaven”
“Some have to go to purgatory before entering heaven”
“You have to be baptized to go to heaven”
“No one can know for sure if they will go to heaven”
Do some of these sound familiar? I know I have come across them repeatedly over the last 33 years. Did you know that the account of the thief hanging on the cross next to Jesus completely challenges all of these claims? Christ’s interaction with the thief on the cross actually replaces these false claims with truth! We must be careful to obtain a view of heaven that is Biblical. Let’s look at 4 countercultural truths about heaven.
1. There is honor in our shame
In this ancient Greek/Roman culture, it was intended as great shame to be sentenced to crucifixion. In fact, the thief acknowledges that he deserves this punishment! So, it is very contradicting for Jesus to honor the thief on the cross next to Him with the promise of eternal life. Jesus is making a countercultural move! It is grace, not our social standing, that determines our eternal destiny.
2. There is freedom from our boundaries
The first century Jews usually believed that salvation was only for religious people or for those in covenant with God (the Jews). That is what makes this passage so jarring! Jesus offers salvation to a criminal in the middle of his execution!! The Bible does not tell us if he was a Jew or Gentile; however, Jews overwhelming rejected Jesus as the Messiah. The gospel had not yet been directed towards the Gentiles as of yet, so this act of Jesus on the cross foreshadows the universal scope of the gospel. The gospel is available to every race no matter how sinful their background!
3. There is grace to the very end of our lives
Think about it for a moment, the thief on the cross had not been baptized (nor would he be baptized before his death). The thief had not learn what the words sanctification, justification, and glorification meant. The thief was most likely not even circumcised (which was part of the Jewish covenant with God). He would have had no time on earth to demonstrate a “changed” life, nor did he have the opportunity to store up a bunch of good works to outweigh the very sinful reasons he hung on the cross next to Jesus to prove his salvation. Yet, Jesus offered eternal salvation to the thief in the final hours of his life! Salvation is not earned. It is given in love by God to all who believe (Jn. 3:16-18; Rom. 10:13). This is the clarity of justification by faith alone.
4. There is assurance confirmed for all who believe
We can know for sure if we have a home in heaven. Eternal security is a real thing! Jesus uses the words “Truly” and “today” in Luke 23:43. These words confirm the assurance of the thief’s salvation (“truly”) AND the immediacy of his salvation (“today”). Jesus also confirms here that He has the authority to grant eternal life. This means our security is rooted in Jesus alone (and not in our works). The thief had no delay or time in purgatory in receiving this promise. Jesus said, “today you will be with me in paradise!”
Today we partake in the Lord’s Supper with a broken cracker and some grape juice. We take these elements today to remind us of the extravagant gift God gave the world in sending His son to take our judgment in our place. The bread represents Christ’s broken body on the cross. He was cruelly beaten with extreme prejudice and fastened to two pieces of wood with nails through His flesh...because of our sin. The grape juice represents the blood Jesus shed…to cover our sins. His death, burial, and resurrection made possible the forgiveness of our sins and a home in heaven. Saved from our sin. Saved from the judgment for our sin! Saved to live with Jesus in heaven for all eternity! God’s saving work:
…is based on His grace (not our works)
…is available to every person (no matter their background)
…cannot be earned (it is offered out of immense love)
…is provided at the time we pass into eternity (if we believed)
Do you have a relationship with Jesus today? Has there been a day in your life’s journey that you personally accepted His gift of salvation? Still have questions? Click here to find out more!