Are We “All-In-ers”?

Luke 23:35-43

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

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True Believers are free forever from condemnation and the corresponding condemning charges and accusations brought against them.  As per St. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  But, the “Key Word” here is “In”.  If we are “all-in” in something, ‘come hell or high-water’, we are going to stick it out; “all-in-ers” hold fast in the good times and during the challenges.  Like “die-hard” fans, “all-in-ers” will still love our teams even when they play miserably.  Or, when faced with the trials and tribulations of marriage and/or parenting, if we’re really “all-in”, we’ll fight for our marriages and love our Families unconditionally even when life and the world throw us ‘conditions’.  To be an “all-In-Believer” is to be a “True Believer”, because St. James told us in James 2:17-19, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”  Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.  You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”  And, both St. Paul and St. James are only building upon what Jesus has already told us all in Matthew 12:37, “But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  So, the question is then are we willing to double-down on God and what He has planned for us?  If we do, our acts will show Him to the world.  Our crucifixion to the world through “how” we act in Him will share the Hope of Jesus Christ with more people than a great Sermon from a pulpit or a YouTube video ever could.  While all efforts in Christ are “Good”, when it comes to the Salvation of Souls, it’s time to act…it’s time to try…it’s time to love even when it hurts and cost us everything.  That’s what God did for us when He sent Jesus to go “All-In” for us!