The Grace of the King

“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Romans 4:5). The story of the repentant thief who was crucified alongside of our Lord provides one of the most stunning pictures of sovereign grace, human inability, regeneration, and justification by faith alone in the entirety of the Scriptures. While the first criminal persists in his rebellion and further hardens his heart, the second criminal is enabled to see the spotless Lamb, the King of all kings, who was numbered with the transgressors in order to bear their sins (Isaiah 53:12). In this Good Friday service sermon, Pastor Matt briefly takes us through Luke 23:39-43 and demonstrates the grace of the King that was given to this thief, who was completely unable to attain a righteousness of his own, yet throws himself upon the mercy of God in order to receive forgiveness and reconciliation.