Thief on the cross

 Can We Be Saved Like The Thief On The Cross?

Are You A “Berean”? Do You Search The Scriptures For Yourself?

The beautiful story of the Thief on the Cross has been used by many for many reasons including justifying one’s salvation, because of Jesus’ mercy and words to this penitent thief. So let’s look further into this to learn more.

By The Way, Are You A “Berean”? Do You Search The Scriptures For Yourself? Or Do You Just Believe Every Doctrine Given To You By Others?

Let’s start by reading the text in Luke :

Luke’s Account of the Thief on the Cross (Luke 23:33-43)

Luke 23:33–43 (NIV): 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

What Can We Learn From the Thief on the Cross?

This wonderful passage of scripture illustrates our Savior’s love for us all, in that it’s never too late nor are there ever too many sins to be forgiven. Jesus mercy here is extravagant and wonderful, and basking in his love is satisfying, especially in the view of us all being no worse nor any better than the thief on the cross, in that he got caught, in his sins. Perhaps we have not….yet (until Judgment day). Jesus certainly died for you and me so that we would not have to taste spiritual death. Let’s all get the mercy that God so eagerly and earnestly desires for us!

Q:“Can We be saved like the thief on the cross? Besides, the thief on the cross didn’t get baptized, and Jesus said he would be with him in Paradise…So, I shouldn’t have to either, Right?“

Those who point to the thief to negate new testament conversion & baptism are making a critical error.  It’s dangerous to build a doctrine on an exception. Baptism isn’t the only thing missing from the Thief’s conversion.

ANSWERS AND POINTS TO CONSIDER

A: (1) The Thief died under the Law of Moses BEFORE Jesus died, before God’s New Covenant:

  1. Jesus had not died yet, they were under the old covenant still, the old testament. (Old Testament= sacrificial law,  not Faith in Jesus Blood Yet)

A: (2)-Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not been glorified (or even died). That is not God’s plan of salvation for everyone, but a merciful exception during Jesus’ days on earth.  

 

  1. Besides, Jesus had not died yet.
  2. Besides, Jesus had not resurrected yet.
  3. John 7:39-“By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
  4. Jesus had many other words during his life on earth and after he died, resurrected and appeared to the disciples and 500 others, here are some of his important words and these arent even his last words….yet:
    1. THESE ARE MANY OF JESUS’ WORDS about God’s (upcoming or future) Covenant and Kingdom that was about to be fulfilled after his resurrection (30-33 A.D.)
      1. Kingdom is near (Matthew 4:17)
      2. Kingdom will come in the lifetime of some of the disciples (Mark 9:1)
      3. Kingdom will come with power (Mark 9:1)
      4. Kingdom entered by new birth (John 3:1-7)
      5. Kingdom is within you (Luke 17:20-21)
      6. Peter has the keys. (Matthew 16:13-19) Church and the Kingdom are the same and will be built on the truth that Jesus is the Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
      7. Joseph of Arimathea was still waiting for the Kingdom when Jesus died. (Luke 23:50-51)
      8. Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached first in Jerusalem to all nations. (Luke 24:44-49)

     

  5. Are we forgetting the new covenant, the very, very long awaited predicted, prophesied, promised new kingdom and covenant? Today, we don’t pray the spirit into ourselves after we believe, that is not the covenant that God setup, even if we are sincerely sorrowful or willful regarding our believe in Christ and our repentance towards sin. We can be sincerely “wrong”. We must be diligent to follow what Jesus said and the plan of salvation laid out in the scriptures.
    1. Did you read John 8:31-32-“31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
    2. So he said, to the Jews who placed their faith in him as the messiah, instead of Judaism, he said to these subset of Jews, that intellectual belief in me is not enough. If (conditional tense) you choose to hold (meaning “death grip”=obedience) to his teachings, then they would REALLY be his disciples, his followers, and only then would they truly know the truth, and be set free by obedience to the truth. Perhaps you need to be set free too, I know I did…and continue to need to be daily. How about you?
  6. The New Testament Covenant was not laid out until Pentecost 40 days after Jesus ascended into heaven. (Acts 2), Remember, who had the keys to the kingdom? Yes, Peter, and he got up and finished with his message culminating in Acts 2:38-42.

A: (2)-Forgiveness is only given by the terms of Jesus’ Will. A Will only takes place at death, it has no force while the testator is alive.

For a will takes effect only at death; it has no force while the testator is alive

  • Hebrews 9:16-18 “In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it  17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.”.

Forgiveness is only given by the terms of Jesus’ Will

  • You can’t have a new testament without a death.
  • So, is it better for you to make up your own plan of salvation or read the bible to see what Jesus’ will for your life is?
  • By the way, if Jesus died to his will, You & I will need to die to our will, and live for God’s will too. Like Teacher, like follower!
  • Why are you clinging to man made theology when Jesus gave us the new way? In fact, Peter had the keys to “open” this way up, if we just read & obey it. If we believe for a moment in Jesus death, and think that in some way that our belief will cause us to contact the blood of Christ by intellectual belief even with sincerity, that is not biblical, even if one thinks “God knows my heart”.

A: (3)-If all of God’s faithful people were awaiting his New Covenant, his new kingdom, why would we, invalidate 1000s of years of prophecies etc with a made-up theology regarding how to enter God’s kingdom? Why would we say, “Well, the thief got a free ticket, so do I, even if I really believe it or even mean it?”

  • Do you understand when the new covenant was ‘kicked off’? (Acts 2). (After Jesus’ death and the temple was torn, the old covenant was done away with. In Acts 2, God ‘rolled it out’, check it out!)

I think this reveals a lack of understanding of what God’s kingdom is, how to get into it and how predictions began since 750B.C in Isaiah. God’s kingdom (Click Here to Study Out “What is The Kingdom of God?”) was predicted since 750 B.C, Can you really ignore that by just believing “made-up” theology that came around in the 1800s btw, that says what you want, to just “believe like the Thief on the Cross”. Really?? So, you want to invalidate God’s prophets, his Holy Spirit, and 1000s of years of his work in bringing his kingdom to fruition because of your intellectual belief and even sincerity? This is illogical, and even pretentious. Please just repent and follow his word. Super simple. Just Do It!

A: (4)-A Clue! Peter was given the Keys to God’s (future) kingdom. What are keys used for? Opening things, right?

Were getting closer here to God’s kingdom. Peter was given Keys to God’s (future) kingdom:

  • Matthew 16:16-19    Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

    17  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18  And I tell you that you are Peter, b and on this rock  I will build my church, and the gates of Hades c will not overcome it. 19  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be d bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be e loosed in heaven.”  Jesus is speaking of future-conditional tense “I will build my church”. What are keys used for? Opening doors. Peter was selected to open the doors of the kingdom of heaven, the church. When did he do this?

A: (5)-Other Factors Regarding God’s Plan of Salvation and missing conversion points in the thief on the cross’ conversion vs. God’s “normative” conversion for all of us:

  • For example, (Luke 13:3 Jesus says repentance is necessary) Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. You can’t have forgiveness without Repentance.
  • Intellectual belief is NOT enough according to James 2:19, John 8:31-32.
  • There is no “verbal” confession of Jesus as the Son of God.
  • The fact that Jesus showed extraordinary exception to the thief does not mean that his exemplified mercy was meant to be the basis for all  mankind’s doctrine beginning  after Jesus’ death.

Additionally, claiming that EVERY verse that commands baptism is cancelled out by  Luke  23:39-43 is  to  say that the Bible contradicts itself.  Instead,  we have to see the different  bible texts as  a whole to gain a fuller picture, and that’s how we understand how the thief could be saved in a different  manner  than we are today.

Q:”But Jesus said the thief is forgiven because he believes, right?” Well, remember…He’s Jesus, and he was showing mercy, he did this often in his life to several people as well.

A: Christ Has Authority To Forgive Sins (Mark 2:10-11, Matthew 9:6)

If Jesus says you’re forgiven verbally, you’re forgiven.  While on earth, Jesus had authority to forgive, heal, dispense blessings however he saw fit. At the time of his death, his authority was implanted as his will or testament legally. The terms of that will require both repentance & baptism as a condition of forgiveness.

Matthew 9:6 “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

  • No one has a right to invalidate Jesus words or the conditions he laid out in scripture pertaining to the new covenant.  To those that invalidate baptism, I would ask you “What is baptism biblically? Have you studied it out? (what bible verse(s))?

We Can Be Just AS Saved as the Thief on the Cross, but We CANNOT be saved like (or in the same manner) as the Thief on the Cross!

Which Cross Do You Preach? The cross of the thief or the cross of Christ?

OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER

I have some questions for you regarding “How Do I Get Saved Biblically?”, Please study these out below (look up scriptures):

If Sin Separates You Permanently, What Must Happen for you to be reconnected to God?

the Bible says in Romans 3:23,  “that all have sinned and  fallen  short of the  glory of  God….” and Isaiah 59:1-2 says that “you’re sin has separated you from your God“.

What Must Happen for you to be reconnected to God?

Does stopping sinning good enough? No, the “bricks” of sin, the wall still remains, merely stopping sinning doesnt erase the sin or the separation that you’ve caused in your own life. Isaiah 59:1-2 says that your sin has (permanently) separated you from your God. So, consequently, the solution is that the wall of sin must be torn down.  The point in time that your wall of sin comes down once and for all in your life is called forgiveness! It’s forgiveness through faith in Christ’s blood!

When do you contact the saving blood of Christ by faith? At what transactional point?

Romans 3:25 says were saved by the redemption of Christ’s blood.  (what bible verse(s))? (see Colossians 2:12- you were raised with Him through faith, trusting in the working of God here…). Note: you say trusting in Christ is the only thing that saves you?  Colossians 2:12 says that you “trust” the working of God through your faith AT THE POINT OF BAPTISM after/during Repentance. There’s no saving faith without biblical repentance, and no repentance without baptism.

How does one get the Holy Spirit? (what bible verse(s))? Through prayer? Does it get conferred on you by praying Jesus into your heart? Do You Just “Believe” Like the Thief on the Cross and it magically appears?

(what bible verse(s))? (hint: you don’t pray for it or labor for it, it is a gift (Acts 2:38). 

 

How does the sinful nature get circumcised out of us and how do we get the Spiritual nature spoken about?

(what bible verse(s))? (Colossians 2:11-14- this is the exact time your flesh gets put off and when you’re raised from the dead and get the spirit of Christ. This is the circumcision of Christ.)  So the sinful nature gets circumcised out of you & you get the spirit during biblical salvation. How & when does this happen? Did you read Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-4, Colossians 2:12?

 

How do we get “into Christ” and  “into the body of  Christ”? Do You Just Believe like the Thief on the cross and “Poof!” You’re in Christ?

(what bible verse(s))? (Galatians 3:26-27). This is the exact transactional time that you are “clothed” with Christ. The bible is very clear, you’re in Christ or not in Christ. How/When does one get “into” Christ biblically?

 

How do we get part of God’s church/kingdom (what bible verse(s))? Do You Just Believe In Your Heart and Bam!, You’re in God’s Church, his Kingdom??

(1 Corinthians 12:13- baptized into Christ Jesus. Romans 6:3- baptized into his death)

 

Jesus says that we MUST BE BORN AGAIN (in John 3:1-7), How do we do that?

Jesus says, there is NO option, that we MUST be Born Again. There is no “retroactive” belief here. There’s no growing in Christ and then finally reaching a salvation point slowly. Its BAM, you’re in or youre not in. Similarly to your Born or your not born. What did Jesus say about that in John 3:1-7? Do we just believe and then were born again right here, right now? How do we get our “Second” Birth biblically?

Side note: this corresponding passage goes beautifully in conjunction with John 3:1-7:

 1 John 5:5-8:   5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

So where or how are the 3 in Agreement? Where does faith meet the Spirit, the water & the blood of Christ?—> Baptism. That is the point in time that one is raised from the dead through faith.

What were Jesus’ last words before ascension? Aren’t Last Words of our Savior kind of important? (Mark 16:15-16 & Matthew 28:18-20)

  • Do you remember Jesus’ last words before he ascended into  heaven? (aren’t last words pretty important?) Matthew 28:18-20

Are someone’s last words important? Matthew 28:18-20- Our Lord’s Last words before ascending into heaven: “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

  • What is a Disciple? Disciple=Student=Follower=Christian
  • What does make disciples mean? does that mean, you & I might need to read the word and make a committment to Jesus? kind of like a marriage? Is Jesus your Lord & Savior or just your Savior? Have you read Luke 9:23-25, Luke 14:33, John 8:31-32 etc.?
  • What do you do after you make a disciple of Jesus?—> Baptize that disciple. Do you baptize a Non-disciple?
  • What do you do after you baptize a disciple?—> Teach that disciple to Obey. Do you teach them information? or do you teach them obedience and walk with them in the Lord?

How could anyone who professes to trust Jesus for salvation and to accept him as Lord hesitate to obey whatever he so clearly instructs?

WHICH CROSS DO YOU PREACH? THE CROSS OF THE THIEF OR THE CROSS OF CHRIST?

We cant be saved like the thief on the cross any more than we can be saved like Noah, building a boat wont save us, intellectual belief won’t save us. The command Mark 16:16 still stands:

“Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Print Friendly and PDF