Redemption Applied
Q. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ,
by the effectual application of it to us (John 1:12)
by his Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
#461, Trinity Hymnal (© 1990)
Horatius Bonar, 1861
Not what my hands have done
can save my guilty soul;
not what my toiling flesh has born
can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
can give me peace with God;
not all my prayers and sighs and tears
can bear my awful load.
Thy work alone, O Christ,
can ease this weight of sin;
thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God,
not mine, O Lord, to thee,
can rid me of this dark unrest,
and set my spirit free.
Thy grace alone, O God,
to me can pardon speak;
thy pow’r alone, O Son of God,
can this sor bondage break.
No other work, save thine,
no other blood will do;
no strength, save that which is divine,
can bear me safely through.
I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
and with unfalt’ring lip and heart,
I call this Savior mine.
His cross dispels each doubt;
I bury in his tomb
each thought of unbelief and fear,
each ling’ring shade of gloom.
I praise the God of grace;
I trust his truth and might;
he calls me his, I call him mine,
my God, my joy, my light.
‘Tis he who saveth me,
and freely pardon gives;
I love because he loveth me,
I live because he lives.
The Misadventures of Captain Headknowledge 
John
this morning in the prayer meeting, a brother named John asked this question:
did the thief on the cross ask for forgiveness for his sins?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
I would say NO, but I would add that this thief did acknowledge his sins and the penalty due for them but did ask JESUS TO REMEMBER HIM WHEN HE ENTERED HEAVEN.
Would we conclude, “HOW SAD”, this guy didn’t get to receive the baptism, the Sacraments nor did he get to say anything on behalf of this RIGHTEOUS SAVIOR before he died? He did not receive ABSOLUTION for his sins!
He did however get to Hear Our Lord and Savior say, “TODAY, YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE”!
hmmmmmm?
Any thoughts?
michael
The thief’s words, as cited in your comment, constitute his expression of faith. Now saving faith would save him even if he never said a word or did anything, although he certainly would have were he provided the opportunity.
Likewise, saving faith is accompanied by repentance. Acts 20:21 reads, “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
True faith is always accompanied by true repentance, whether anyone utters words that claim repentance or has the opportunity to perform “works meet for repentance (Matthew 3:8).” The outward evidence is for the sake of our own assurance (in a limited sense) and for the sake of the examination of the brethren charged with our spiritual oversight. If the heart repents of sin and trusts the Savior, yet never can climb down off his cross and pray a sinner’s prayer with an altar worker, sign a decision card or perform any work of service out of love, God sees the heart, and for the heart to have these inner evidences is enough evidence that the Holy Spirit has convicted him of his sin, regenerated him, baptized him so that his soul is brought to life in order to desire to repent and believe!
Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9)!
AMEN AND AMEN!!