Man’s entire apostasy and death in sin, so that he cannot save himself, and God’s entire supremacy, so that He saves whom He will, are doctrines exceedingly distasteful to human pride.  But they are Scriptural.  Why was one thief saved and the other lost?  “Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight” (Matt. 11:25-27).  God was not bound to save the one and He had power enough to have saved the other, and neither could save himself.  What made the difference?  The Sovereign grace of God!