And one of the criminals which were hanged railed on him, saying, If you be Christ, save yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Truly I say unto you, To day shall you be with me in paradise.

The verses we have now read deserve to be printed in letters of gold. They have probably been the salvation of myriads of souls. Multitudes will thank God to all eternity that the Bible contains this story of the penitent thief.

We see, firstly, in the history before us — the sovereignty of God in saving sinners.

A fact like this should teach us humility. We cannot account for it. We can only say, "Even so, Father, for so it seems good in your sight." (Matthew 11:26.) How it is that under precisely the same circumstances, one man is converted — and another remains dead in sins? Why is it that the very same sermon is heard by one man with complete indifference — and another man goes home to pray and seek Christ? Why is it that the same Gospel is hidden from one — and revealed to another? All these are questions which we cannot possibly answer. We only know that it is so, and that it is useless to deny it.

Our own duty is clear and plain. We are to make a diligent use of all the means which God has appointed for the good of souls. There is no necessity that anyone should be lost. There is no such a thing as decreed damnation in the Bible. The offers of the Gospel are wide, free and general. God's sovereignty was never meant to destroy man's responsibility. One thief was saved — that no sinner might despair. But only one was saved — that no sinner might presume.

We see secondly in this history — the unvarying character of repentance unto salvation

These six points should always be remembered in connection with the penitent thief. His time was very short for giving proof of his conversion. But it was time well used. Few dying people have ever left behind them such good evidences, as were left by this dying thief.

Let us beware of a repentance without evidences.

The shorter a man's time is — the better must be the use he makes of it. The nearer he is to death, when he first begins to think — the clearer must be the evidence which he leaves behind. Nothing, it may be safely laid down as a general rule — nothing should be so little relied upon, as a death-bed repentance .

We see, thirdly, in this history — the amazing power and willingness of Christ to save sinners.

The time when the thief was saved — was the hour of our Lord's greatest weakness. He was hanging in agony on the cross. Yet even then, He heard and granted a sinner's petition, and opened to him the gate of life. Surely this was "power!"

The man whom our Lord saved — was a wicked sinner at the point of death, with nothing good in his past life to recommend him, and nothing notable in his present position, but a humble prayer. Yet even he was plucked like a brand from the burning! Surely this was "mercy."

Do we want proof that salvation is of grace, and not of works? We have it in the case before us. The dying thief was nailed hand and foot to the cross. He could do literally nothing for his own soul. Yet even he, through Christ's infinite grace, was saved. No one ever received such a strong assurance of his own forgiveness, as this man.

Do we want proof that sacraments and ordinances are not absolutely needful to salvation, and that men may be saved without them when they cannot be had? We have it in the case before us. The dying thief was never baptized. He never belonged to a visible church, and never received the Lord's supper. But he repented and believed — and therefore he was saved.

Let these things sink down into our hearts. Christ never changes. The way of salvation, is always one and the same. He lives, who saved the penitent thief. There is hope for the vilest sinner — if he will only repent and believe.

We see, lastly, in the history before us — how near a dying believer is to eternal rest and glory

That word "today" contains a body of divinity . It tells us that the very moment a believer dies — his soul is in happiness and in safe keeping.

His full redemption is not yet come. His perfect bliss will not begin before the resurrection morning. But there is no mysterious delay, no season of suspense, no purgatory — between his death and a state of glory. In the day that he breathes his last — he goes to Paradise. In the hour that he departs — he is with Christ in glory. (Philippians 1:23.)

Let us remember these things, when our believing friends fall asleep in Christ. We must not sorrow for them — as those who have no hope. While we are sorrowing — they are rejoicing. While we are mourning and weeping at their funerals — they are safe and happy with their Lord.

Above all, let us remember these things, if we are true Christians — in looking forward to our own deaths. To die is a solemn thing. But if we die in the Lord — then we need not doubt that our death will be eternal gain!