For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. – Ephesians 2:9
If salvation had been by works, our Lord could not have said to the thief, dying at His side, “To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” That man could do no works. His hands and feet were fastened to the cross, and he was in the agonies of death. No, it must be of grace, all-conquering grace; and the modus operandi must be by faith, or else for dying men the gospel is a mockery. The man must look, and live. The expiring sinner must trust the expiring Savior. As life ebbs out, the penitent must find life in Jesus’ death. Is it not clear that the gospel of works is unsuitable in such a case as that? Now, a gospel which is unsuitable to anybody is not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, I put it plainly. A gospel that does not suit everybody does not suit anybody; and if it suits any class and condition really and truly, it must suit all classes…The gospel of salvation by grace, through faith, is suitable for every class of persons that we have to deal with. Sinful habit has bound in iron fetters many of our fellow-citizens, and the gospel can free them. Be the habit drunkenness, or profanity, or what it may, the habit holds them fast… The forces of natural depravity, and the acquired habits of sin in many cases, I think you will grant it, put the doctrine of salvation by works out of court; and if out of court as to one, it is gone as to all; for there can be but one gospel. Go through your convict settlements; go through your jails; and just see what you can do with a doctrine of salvation by good works. You will come home disappointed, however earnest may be your address. But go there, and tell of free grace and dying love, and pardon bought with blood, and eyes that stream with tears, confessions of sin, and cries for pardon, will tell you that you have not spoken in vain.~ C.H. Spurgeon
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/2210.cfm
He Hath Said 
As my father told me when I was a boy, “strengthen your faith,” and then as I discovered through my own experiences and learning to understand the truth contained in the Holy Scriptures as being God’s spoken word to us in which He our heavenly Father is showing us just how to do that!
Then when I was older I couldn’t think of any better place to put myself than on that cross of the sinner next to our Savior on His cross. He our Redeemer and Most High Lord Jesus Christ the Savior put Himself there next to us as we die with our human imperfections all of us laden with sin which brings nothing to us but death. He our Savior is there next to us saying trust Me I’m here to save you from yourself and all of your weakness but ultimately your enemy death, out of My abundant love and mercy; because you are worth saving if you will just believe in Me and by so doing express your love for your heavenly Father by abiding in Me the Savior by your faith. Whenever I read about this exchange on Calvary or watch the masterpiece film “The Passion of The Christ” I can’t help but cry like a child nearly throughout the depiction of our Lord’s journey to that one most significant moment in the history of this world! But, so powerful is the message when the film arrives at that point in Christ’s journey just before His Last breath when He declares, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,” then His final words and to me so telling, “it is finished.” That is the moment He our Savior on that cross for us gave up His life here willingly in the flesh, and then conquered death in order to give us everlasting Life and not Death; I sob like a child whenever I see this part of the film! Because I know I’m a lowly weak sinful human being, even though I’m no criminal or despot I’m no better than that dying criminal being crucified next to our Savior was, and I deserve what Jesus was given by this corrupted sinful world that is falling away!
That was the exchange that took place on Calvary, He our heavenly Father in the flesh Jesus Christ said I will take your place and all the suffering and punishment each of you deserve so that you will be spared death and separation from the Father in Paradise! And, all we have to do is accept His gift to us by believing and trusting in Him by our FAITH! Amen.
Lawrence Morra
LikeLike