What Is Your Faith In?

 

Image Source: truthforlife.org

    One of my favorite ministers of the gospel to hear on the radio or podcast is Alistair Begg.  He pastors in Ohio, but comes from Scotland originally.  He has a unique way of making Scripture come alive with his storytelling style and his lilting Scottish brogue. To hear Brother Begg is delightful and he always has a way of making you think and reflect on Scriptural truth. As is always the case with the Word of God, hearing Scripture will lead to conviction, repentance, gratitude and worship.  

    One such sermon that Brother Begg includes an excerpt that is powerful.  I am including the link, so that you may hear him share it, if you wish. The Man on The Middle Cross.

Here is the transcript of that section of his sermon from Truthforlife.org :

Think about the thief on the cross... I can’t wait to find that fellow one day to ask him, “How did that shake out for you? Because you were cussing the guy out with your friend. You’d never been in a Bible study. You’d never got baptized. You didn’t know a thing about church membership. And yet—and yet, you made it! You made it! How did you make it?”

That’s what the angel must have said—you know, like, “What are you doing here?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“Well, ’cause I don’t know.”

“Well, you know… Excuse me. Let me get my supervisor.”

They go get the supervisor angel: “So, we’ve just a few questions for you. First of all, are you clear on the doctrine of justification by faith?”

The guy says, “I’ve never heard of it in my life.”

“And what about… Let’s just go to the doctrine of Scripture immediately.”

This guy’s just staring.

And eventually, in frustration, he says, “On what basis are you here?”

And he said, “The man on the middle cross said I can come.”

Do you remember Solus Christus?  Christ's work on the cross is the ONLY basis for our salvation. When we stand before Heaven's gates and are asked why we should be allowed in, what will your answer be? The only acceptable answer is Jesus. There is not one single thing that we can claim on the day we are to enter heaven that is worthy to allow us entrance into that holiest of holy places.  On that day, no matter if it has been 80 years or 80 seconds since we placed our trust in the blood of Jesus, the only thing that will matter is if we can claim that 

"THE MAN ON THE MIDDLE CROSS SAID I CAN COME."  

What will your answer be? Praise Him for His substitutionary atonement, which covers us and allows us eternal access to the throne room of the Most High!

Soli Deo Gloria!

💓Heather Sparks💓