Gritty grace sermon goes viral

In what may go down as the most electrifying three minutes of gospel preaching in recent memory, veteran Scottish pastor Alistair Begg delivered a powerful reminder of grace that’s lit up the internet like wildfire.

With his trademark Glaswegian grit and theological clarity, Begg tackled an old evangelistic favourite: “If you were to die tonight and were seeking entry into heaven, what would you say?” His response was as stirring as it was sobering.

“If you answer that – and if I answer it – in the first person,” he said, “we’ve immediately gone wrong.

If we say, ‘Because I believed… because I have faith… because I am this… because I am that...’ The only proper answer is in the third person – ‘Because HE...’”

Then came the punchline that’s had Christians everywhere sitting bolt upright.

“Think about the thief on the cross,” Begg said.

“I can’t wait to find that fellow one day and ask him, ‘How did that shake out for you?’ You were cussing the guy out with your friend.

You’d never been in a Bible study.

You’d never got baptised.

You didn’t know a thing about church membership – and yet you made it! How?” Begg imagined the conversation that might have taken place when the thief arrived at the gates of heaven: “The angel must have said, ‘What are you doing here?’ “The thief’s answer? ‘I don’t know.’ “Confused, the angel calls for a supervisor.

More questions follow: “Are you clear on the doctrine of justification by faith? “The guy says, ‘Never heard of it!’ “What about the doctrine of Scripture?” “Just a blank stare from the thief.

“Eventually, out of frustration, they demand: ‘On what basis are you here?!’”

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