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, or do you simply believe every doctrine given to you by others?
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 His words to this penitent thief. So let’s look further into this to learn more.
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Luke’s Account of the Thief on the Cross
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. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
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. It is never too late, and there are never too many sins to be forgiven. Jesus’ mercy here is extravagant and wonderful.
We should bask in His love, especially when we realize that we are no better than the thief on the cross. 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 receive the mercy that God so eagerly and earnestly desires for us.
The Big Question
“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 and baptism are making a critical error.
It is dangerous to build a doctrine on an exception. Baptism is not the only thing missing from the thief’s conversion.
Answers and Points to Consider
Jesus had not died yet. They were still under the Law of Moses and the old covenant system.
The thief’s moment happened before the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost outpouring connected to the New Covenant proclamation.
“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.”
- Jesus had not died yet.
- Jesus had not resurrected yet.
- Jesus had not yet been glorified.
- Pentecost had not yet happened.
That means the thief is not the normal pattern for post-resurrection New Covenant conversion.
- The Kingdom is near — Matthew 4:17
- The Kingdom would come with power — Mark 9:1
- The Kingdom is entered by new birth — John 3:1–7
- The Kingdom is within you — Luke 17:20–21
- Peter was given the keys — Matthew 16:13–19
- Joseph of Arimathea was still waiting for the Kingdom when Jesus died — Luke 23:50–51
- Repentance and forgiveness of sins would be preached first in Jerusalem to all nations — Luke 24:44–49
In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.- You cannot have a New Testament without a death.
- Jesus died to establish His covenant.
- We should read Scripture to see what Jesus’ will actually says.
- If Jesus died to His will, then we must die to our will and live for God’s will.
What are keys used for? Opening doors.
Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus then said He would build His church and give Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Peter opened the door of the Kingdom message in Acts 2, where repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit are proclaimed.
“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
If Jesus says someone is forgiven, they are forgiven. While on earth, Jesus had authority to forgive, heal, and dispense blessing however He saw fit.
But that does not give us the right to ignore the instructions He later gave concerning repentance, baptism, discipleship, obedience, and the New Covenant proclamation.
We can be just as saved as the thief on the cross.
But we cannot be saved like — or in the exact same manner as — the thief on the cross.
How Do I Get Saved Biblically?
If sin separates you from God, 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. Isaiah 59:1–2 says that your sin has separated you from your God.
Merely stopping sinning does not erase the sin already committed. The wall of sin still remains. The point in time when that wall comes down is called forgiveness.
Forgiveness is through faith in Christ’s blood.
When do you contact the saving blood of Christ by faith?
Romans 3:25 says we are saved by the redemption of Christ’s blood. Colossians 2:12 says you were raised with Him through faith, trusting in the working of God.
That means saving faith is not dead intellectual belief. It is faith that submits to God’s working.
How does one receive the Holy Spirit?
Acts 2:38 says the gift of the Holy Spirit is connected to repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
How does the sinful nature get circumcised out of us?
Colossians 2:11–14 speaks of the circumcision of Christ, being buried with Him in baptism, and being raised with Him through faith in the working of God.
How do we get “into Christ”?
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
The Bible is clear: you are either in Christ or not in Christ. The question is, when does Scripture say a person is clothed with Christ?
How do we enter the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 12:13 says we are baptized by one Spirit into one body. Romans 6:3 says we are baptized into Christ Jesus and into His death.
Jesus said we must be born again.
Jesus says there is no option. We must be born again.
There is no slow, accidental drifting into salvation. Birth is decisive. You are born, or you are not born. So how does Scripture describe the second birth?
The Spirit, the water, and the blood testify, and the three are in agreement.
Baptism is presented as the point where one is raised from the dead through faith in the working of God.
What Were Jesus’ Last Words Before Ascension?
“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.”
- Make disciples. A disciple is a student, follower, and Christian.
- Baptize disciples. Baptism follows discipleship and faith.
- Teach obedience. Jesus did not say to teach information only, but to teach people to obey everything He commanded.
How could anyone who professes to trust Jesus for salvation and accept Him as Lord hesitate to obey what He clearly instructs?
Which Cross Do You Preach?
The Cross of the Thief or the Cross of Christ?
We cannot be saved like the thief on the cross any more than we can be saved like Noah. Building a boat will not save us. Intellectual belief alone will not save us.
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
The thief on the cross displays the mercy of Jesus. But the commands of Jesus after His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension still stand.