The message of salvation by simple faith in Jesus Christ is illustrated by the thief on the cross. He was a criminal, initially mocking Jesus with the rest of the crowd, but something happened during the course of the Crucifixion. He did not have to do any works in order to receive salvation: he looked at Christ, listened, and recognized His lordship. When he faced darkness, he asked Christ to remember him, and for this simple faith alone he made it into God's kingdom that very day. Matthew 27:35-44, Luke 23:32-43. VF-2128