“42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43, KJV).
Loved ones, being a thief is not unusual. Thieves have been active throughout the history of the world. Jesus was crucified between two unnamed robbers (Matthew 27:38, 44; Mark 15:27) whom Luke called malefactors – criminals (Luke 23:33). Judas Iscariot is the only named thief in the Bible (John 12:4-6).
What Can Be Known
We can only know for sure about the past lives of the two criminals who were crucified: that they were caught, convicted of their crimes, and sentenced to be crucified.
We cannot know for sure that they were not in the crowds that heard Jesus speak and saw His miracles or heard about Him from others.
Nor can we know that they were not among the many people John baptized with “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 1:77; Mark 1:5; Matthew 3:5-6; John 3:23) or Jesus' disciples baptized (John 3:22).
We can know that both criminals joined with others who reviled Jesus (Matthew 27:44). One of them later said, “... If thou be Christ, save thyself and us” (Luke 23:39).
The other one said, “42 Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).
That very day the thief did not go to heaven but was with Jesus in Hades where Jesus' soul went and where He remained until His resurrection (Acts 2:27, 31). Jesus did not ascend to the Father at that time (John 20:17), but later (John 20:17; Acts 1:2-3, 9-11).
Unique Salvation
The robber, who requested Jesus to remember him, neither obeyed the requirements for forgiveness under the Law, which ended at the cross (Ephesians 2:14-15; Colossians 2:14) nor those under the new covenant that Jesus ratified by His death on the cross (Hebrews 9:16, 17; 10:9).
The thief can be classified with the paralytic Jesus forgave (Matthew 9:2, 4) and a sinful woman who washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, and kissed His feet and anointed them with oil (Luke 7:37-38, 48, 50).
Jesus forgave them to show that while on earth He had the power to forgive sins (Matthew 9:4) according to His own discretion without the requirements of the Law (Leviticus 4:27-31) or of the new covenant (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21), which, as yet, had not been dedicated by His blood (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:15-17).
Jesus' promise to the thief that he would be with Him in Paradise is a unique case, for he died before forgiveness began to be preached in Jesus' name, thus before it was offered to all nations. It began to be preached by Peter and the other apostles in Jerusalem as Jesus had promised (Luke 24:46, 47; Acts 2:5, 38).
For the first time in the history of the world, people were offered forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name. Peter told the people, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38; cf. 5:32).
Nowhere in the New Testament is it recorded that the early church preached that people were to be saved like the crucified thief. Forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name began to be preached (Luke 24:46-47):
a. After Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised.
b. On the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1, 6, and 38) more than 40 days (Acts 1:2) after the thief had died.
c. From Jerusalem by Peter and not outside Jerusalem by Jesus from the cross.
d. To all nations without mention of the thief on the cross.
e. First to Jews (Romans 1:16) who were told to "be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins" (Acts 2:38).
Examples For Us
In no case does the Bible state that anyone is to be saved like the crucified robber. The composite of the examples in the Book of Acts and other New Testament books shows that people who heard forgiveness preached in Jesus' name believed in Him, repented of their sins, confessed faith in Jesus, and were baptized in order to be forgiven and to have their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus (Acts 2:36-41; 8:12, 35-39; 22:16; Matthew 26:28; Revelation 1:5).
The crucified thief is a unique case, but he is NOT an example of how we today are to obey Jesus in order to be saved (Hebrews 5:9). Today, all men are saved by the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Romans 1:16)
Salvation Involves...
1. Hearing - Romans 10:17
2. Belief - Mark 16:16
3. Repentance - Luke 13:3, 5
4. Confessing Christ - Romans 10:9-10
5. Baptism (immersion in water) - Acts 2:38
Following these five steps will not give us a punched ticket to heaven. We must believe and follow all of God's instructions as outlined in the Bible (Matthew 28:20), even if one is:
Disowned by parents and siblings; Fired from one's job; Forced to move out of one's home; Ridiculed by friends; Imprisoned; Even killed.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ upholds the highest of ideals and ethical standards. It is the ONE true religion for ALL mankind (Ephesians 4:4-6). All other pathways to salvation and peace lead only to disappointment and despair without Jehovah (John 14:6).
May we always have such a love for the blessed Gospel that we may never be ashamed (Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 2:15) to be examples of sinners saved by faith through the Gospel of God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), and, like Paul, let us be willing to glorify the Author of that Gospel in our lives (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Jesus says, “…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. Through the free gift of God’s grace by Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 2:8; Revelation 1:5) and your obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 10:17; 16:26), salvation is offered. If you have Bible questions or wish to comment on this post, please do so. Lord willing, a Bible answer will be provided for every Bible question.
The churches of Christ are neither Catholic, Protestant, nor Jew (Romans 16:16; Matthew 16:18-19). We are the loving suffering ONE body of Christ (Ephesians 1:20-23; 4:4-6) – CHRISTIANS: “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16; cf. Acts 11:26; 26:28).
We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35). Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA – 10 April 2026.
