Mar. 29, 2026

What if the most powerful salvation story in the Bible happened in someone's final moments — on a cross, with no time left? 

Pastor Dave's sermon begins at 23:43 min into the video. The music “Halleluia Train", " Hosanna, Hosanna", " When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder", “Follow Me”, “Standing On The Promises (Promises)”, “There Is Power In The Blood (Power In The Blood)” and " When We All Get To Heaven” are licensed under CCLI Copyright #2723035 and Streaming Media #22024223 licenses.

Pastor Dave continued the powerful Easter series with the story of the thief on the cross from Luke 23:32-43. Through this encounter, he reminded us that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost—even in our final moments—and that we are all trophies of His amazing grace.

His message highlighted three key truths from the thief's story: the reality of our sin and deserved judgment, the power of genuine repentance and faith, and the boundless, unmerited grace of Jesus that saves to the uttermost.

1. We All Deserve the Cross

Pastor Dave invited us to identify with the thief on the cross. Both criminals initially mocked Jesus, but one had a dramatic change of heart. He acknowledged his own guilt, saying, "We indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds," and recognized Jesus' innocence: "This man has done nothing wrong."

As Pastor Dave put it, "Aren't you glad that Jesus was on the middle cross? That was the cross that was ours, right?" We all deserve judgment because of our sin, yet Jesus took our place.

He connected this to the prophecy in Isaiah 53:12 (NKJV):

"Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Jesus was numbered with sinners by God's sovereign plan.

2. A Change of Heart and a Cry for Grace

The repentant thief rebuked the other, asking, "Do you not even fear God?" He then turned to Jesus and said, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

Pastor Dave explained that "remember me" in Scripture often means "show me grace and favor." Even while dying, the thief expressed faith that Jesus was King and would have a kingdom. He called on the name of the Lord in his final moments.

Jesus responded with words of assurance: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

As Pastor Dave shared, "Music to this man's ears." He was saved without any good works, church attendance, or merit—just simple faith in Christ.

3. Grace Is Never Too Late (But Don't Presume on It)

Pastor Dave told a moving personal story from early in his ministry about a man named Wilbur who passed away shortly after hearing the gospel in the ICU. He emphasized that God's grace can reach anyone, even at the last moment.

Yet he warned against presuming on that grace: "Today is the day of salvation." We are never beyond God's reach while we have breath, but we should respond to His offer now.

He reminded us of John 3:16-18 (NKJV):

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Jesus came not to condemn but to save. And Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) makes it clear:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Whether saved early in life or in our final breath, we are all saved the same way—by grace through faith in Jesus alone.

Pastor Dave closed by inviting everyone to respond to God's grace today. He led a heartfelt prayer of commitment and reminded us that for those who die in Christ, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." What matters most about heaven is that Jesus is there.