Do you know the Lord?

  Do you know the Lord?

In the Gospel of Luke we read this annunciation to the Shepherds,

"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord." 

                               Luke 2:11

This is the reason that Jesus came to this earth. To save all who would believe in Him from their sins.

Near the end of Luke’s gospel we read, of this interaction between Jesus and the two men who were crucified with Him. Luke records,

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43.

The criminal that believed in Jesus, did what we all must do I’m sure without any prompting. He confessed his sins directly to Jesus and asked Him to remember him when he entered His kingdom.

This man had no chance to do any good works as his life would soon be over. 

The apostle Paul writes,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

In the book of Romans Paul states,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  Romans 10:9-11.

That criminal probably as his last act in this world did all that the apostle Paul states we must do. He accepted the free gift of God’s grace by confessing Jesus is Lord. 

He put his trust in Christ and thus would be with Jesus in Heaven.

Do you know the Lord? 

Please think about it.