How Could the Thief on the Cross Be Saved? - Ask Pastor Tim
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 14 июл 2024
- Some ask, “How was the thief on the cross saved if he didn’t live a righteous life?” Let us consider what this implies about how they believe a person is declared right before God.
🎧MP3: illbehonest.com/download/ques...
→ View on I'll Be Honest: illbehonest.com/how-could-the...
Original question: Please clarify this for me. Regarding the theif on the cross. How do you compare his salvation with ours? I mean, he did not live a good life at all. He did not show any fruit of repentance. He did not live right, yet Jesus saved him anyway. How was Jesus able to save him when we are clearly instructed to live right and to turn from sin? As I understand it, he was the only one in scripture who had this deathbed salvation so we can’t rely on that but you know what I mean?
Saved by Grace through FAITH. It's a relief to know that the thief didn't have to speak in "tongues" to be saved. Jesus's sacrifice and our Faith in Him and acceptance of Him is enough.
Exactly. The most simple example of salvation in Bible. Believed him as Lord, knew he deserved his punishment and Christ saved him.
@@JRballer2377 Brother, the thief was saved before Jesus had died.
Once Jesus died the new testament/covenant began. What is the new covenant? Repenting from sin, Being baptized in Jesus Name and receiving the free gift of the Holy Ghost initially evident by speaking in tongues.
It is not a works salvation but rather we are obeying the commandments of our Lord Jesus. Faith without Works is dead. Amen
@@julianmontoya8660 The new man entered after they both died. Not at that moment. God has mercy on whom He choices. I’m not understanding why people want the thief in hell. We better be careful the judgement we give out is what we are going to get in return. He had faith with works. You couldn’t see it only The One who sits on the throne could. God looks at the heart. Every situation is different. God will save people on their death beds. He wants no one to go to hell. Not everyone has the knowledge of the truth..
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
Mark 7:7-9 KJV
@@sophiavalencia5312 Yes, you are right. Forgive me for my abrasive comment.
@@julianmontoya8660 Nothing but love in Christ Jesus..I used to be so like a Pharisee but The Lord Jesus opened my eyes. Blessings
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion
I would say John 11. Where Christ says"I am the ressurection and the life. if a man lives and believes in me he shall never die." -Jesus
I think thats the best answer a man can find in scripture.
Brother, the thief was saved before Jesus had died.
Once Jesus died the new testament/covenant began. What is the new covenant? Repenting from sin, Being baptized in Jesus Name and receiving the free gift of the Holy Ghost initially evident by speaking in tongues.
It is not a works salvation but rather we are obeying the commandments of our Lord Jesus. Faith without Works is dead. Amen
Christ is the authority. The thief on the cross admitted his errors and humbled himself while on the cross next to Jesus. Jesus would have seen his heart, and because He came to save all of us, through His love, mercy & grace and for His glory.
He's saved because Jesus Christ told him himself he's saved. Can't any clear confirmation than that 😎👍
Jesus had not died yet. They were still under the old law. Christ had the authority to forgive.
He turned (repented) from the sin of disbelief in Jesus as the Christ.
Before Jesus was glorified, you were saved through believing in Jesus. Since he was God in flesh, he forgave sins.
(John 3:16)
After Jesus was glorified, a new covenant was made, to be born of water and Spirit.
Jesus spoke prophetically concerning being born of water and Spirit. ( John 3:5 )
Water birth ( Mark 16:16, Act 2:38...)
Spirit birth ( Acts 2:38, Rom 8:9 John 7:38-39...)
It's more than saying, "I accept him as my personal Lord and Savior, and being saved.
You must be born again of water and Spirit to see the kingdom of Heaven.
Grace & Mercy, God gave him the opportunity to believe in his last moments.
He was saved by grace through faith he believed on the lord not of works least any man should boast
Easy answer? If Jesus Christ Himself says to your face you are saved, count it.
Matthew no. You need to explain Scripture. Not your thoughts. Explain WHY he would say that. Like Paul, Stephen, Peter, they ALL explained Scripture to back up their doctrine. Read ACTS sometime. They didn't just say "If Jesus said he was messiah just count it". NO! they explained through Scripture WHY AND HOW HE WAS MESSIAH.
Matthew I don't know why you even have ONE like on your comment.
@@DjSostre7 it's not by the scriptures that we know that Jesus is the Christ. True Christians know that.
Dan Saber what you just said is satanic. Yes it ISSSS by the scriptures. FAITH COMETH BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD(Scriptures)
You are BORN AGAIN BY THE WORD OF GOD-1Peter1:23.
What you said was satanic and dishonoring to God. Its by his word . read romans 10:11-14. Your doctrine is of the devil. ANY christian knows that. Its funny im the only one going to scripture.
Dan Saber yes it is by the scriptures. John 20:31 refutes your dangerous doctrine.
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon Him while He is near..the thief who repented and believed received from the Lord Jesus Christ what he didn’t earn…GRACE
I don't think ppl understand that good ppl don't go to heaven forgiven ppl do he was forgiven because of his Faith. We cabt be good enough to get into heaven its impossible its by our faith in which we are made righteous.
Amen
He acknowledged Jesus as Lord. That is the foundation of Salvation in Christ.
the thief on the cross believed and was justified by FAITH.
That was enjoyable. What I thought of was Paul's confession is Galatians 2:20. And that the thief could be a picture or a foreshadow of being crucified with Christ. Just a thought
Joseph Bowman my thought exactly Joseph, the thief understood he deserved to be on the Cross, that he was condemned justly while Christ was innocent. Sounds like true belief.
I say this. Jesus knew the thieves heart. That Is the only thing I can say, maybe I am wrong. Maybe this is how good are God is. We can do all these works, good deeds, but if we do not have these deeds in are heart truly, what are they then? I have wrestled with this also. This scripture. But I love this scripture. When I read this scripture every single time, my eyes swell up with tears. Everytime. To see how much Mercy and love, towards a man that repented in his heart at the last second of his life. This scripture wants me to seek Jesus even more. But like everyone else, I get caught up into this world. My own addictions, my own worries. Worries of survival, comfort,
But if I could truly let it all go, all go, even my Bill's, my debt, I owe to mankind, to wake up everyday, and let God totally be incontrol, of my life, to just sit in a room, all day long, and sit at Gods feet, not even going to work, to let God feed me, take total control. I wonder what kind of man I would be. The world would call me lazy, a bum, but that is my desire. But than I see the worldly consequences of doing this. So I go half and half. God forgive me...
Thank you, this cleared up so much for me!
God Bless you pastor Tim! You're a wonderful man!
I would argue quite toxic as I’m over here, still trying to heal over a decade later…
I would refer back to Abraham being counted righteous by his faith. That our faith in Jesus's righteousness saves us, by no works of our own. Our works are only evidence of our faith.
remnant warrior “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
*Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?*
You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, " AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
James 2:20-26 NASB
Zachariah did you not read the last line of my comment? Faith produces works, works are evidence of faith. Perhaps you should read Matthew 5:22.
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Zachariah remember the man being crucified with Christ? He didn't have a chance to do works, but he had faith, he believed, he confessed Jesus being the Messiah, and it was counted to him for righteousness, for Jesus told him he would be with him that very day, in the Kingdom. He didn't go out to do any works, but he had faith. Our faith will produce works, if it doesn't, then our faith is dead. However, our faith alone is counted as righteousness, not our works.
remnant warrior I was only quoting the companion Scripture to your comment, not calling you a fool my friend. Perhaps I should have quoted it without that verse included, but they were James words by mine. I did read the last part of your comment, and I’m in agreement. Simply wanted to say Paul’s comments about Abraham’s justification should be looked at alongside those of the brother James’.
remnant warrior I agree the thief on the Christ was saved by Faith in the Son of God alone. As evidenced by his conviction of his sins, recognition of his deserving of death on the cross and Christ’s innocence. Some would argue out of his belief, he rebuked the other criminal abusing our Lord. His defense of our Lord in His time of need was a good work! It did not save him, it demonstrated he was saved. This is further evidenced by his confession that Christ will be coming in His kingdom. Clearly he believed on Jesus.
Jesus came to save that which was lost. People like you and I, the thief. The thief believed that Jesus was the Christ, and so Jesus instantly forgave him for his sins, even if he did not ask. His faith alone made him whole . Even if he did not say " lord I repent of my sins." By believing, by having faith, he was forgiven.
The other mocked him.
brother thanks for sharing Beutiful teaching God bless you brother. I enjoyed your teaching is such a blessing.
Super lesson you painted the picture of Christ on the cross
What If there was a enough power in what Jesus did to save someone who comes to him in a simple prayer realizing they a sinner a d need a savior
The one thief on the cross afterward sometime seeing in great agony his partner mocking Christ and joining in on the crowd acknowledge his own sins and realizing Jesus as the true Messah of his Jewish faith,so that's how he got saved by Christ sacrifice as the lame slain on the alter.
Salvation rely on faith the thief had faith in Jesus so he was considered righteous
I would also say, that it wasn't revealed to them of the spirit that Jesus was whom He was, until that moment. Had he known the truth prior to the cross, and rejected Him, repented not, there would have been a different account. Yet, at the moment of KNOWING the truth, that Jesus is who He is, and salvation is made available, it's that moment, the moment you have Knowledge of the truth, is the moment you chose to either reject the truth, or walk in it. As Abraham's faith was counted into him for righteousness, so our faith in Christ's righteousness will save us. James 2:24, 2:27, just the entire second chapter of James, tells you, your works don't save you, but your faith in Christ, while your works are evidence of your faith, having faith and no works is counted as dead faith. While having works with no faith, is self righteousness.
Thank you for this message! I wanted to like it, but couldn't see clicking away the 316.
Some simple but profound aspects:
- The act of that theif saying what he said gives proof he had come to believe and put his faith in the man next to him - Jesus Christ.
- Since Christ had not yet died and been raised, (and the idea of "getting saved" wasnt a formal or typical thing in the way we speak of it after Christ left and sent the Holy Spirit), Christ - knowing He would soon physically die - was stating that, after the theif dies, he would be in paradise with Him/Jesus.
- The thief made a very clear "statement of his faith". But it's also clear that the theif had already heard about Jesus and, upon hearing the mockery of the other man in this final display against Christ, realizes He IS the Christ - the son of God - and take a very clear step of faith.
If we can come to faith in Jesus; who do not see Him bodily and can not even imagine (let alone experience) being there physically with Christ in that hour...Surely this theif was granted "salvation/forgiveness" when, in agony upon the cross, he proclaimed Jesus through faith in Him.
I came here this video because someone told me you must be baptized to be saved not just believe
That is true under the new covenant, but the thief is under the old covenant.
@@D1sc1p1e no it was always to believe it's always been believe God I'm so tired of hearing everybody adding on the book of Galatians warns about people adding on to the gospel they are to be accursed
@@emsdiy6857 that's already in scripture, as Jesus said it himself that you cannot see the Kingdom of God unless you are born of water and spirit!
@@emsdiy6857 in James it also says even the demons believe. Does that make them saved too?
@@D1sc1p1e
1 Corinthians 1 17
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
If you're about to die and you believe in Christ you don't have time to be baptized. If someone comes to salvation and is allergic to water, how can they be baptized???
Couldn't we use the verse where Jesus said, he came to save sinners as well. And the thief did repent. He acknowledge his sin and admitted he deserve his death. And he reconize he needed Christ
Faith Perry he even rebuked the other thief abusing Jesus in his time of need. Sounds like a good work to me and evidence of true Faith in Christ.
He recognized Jesus’s power. He said Jesus did nothing wrong. And He asked and believed Jesus for something. To remember him
I am utterly confused if salvation is works-based, or a gift of grace.
@@Kontraleah We are saved by grace, through faith to do the good works that God prepared for us in advance.
@@user-yv3lr9xj9z #nailedit 👊
@@user-yv3lr9xj9z Y’all over-complicate things, and that was very-well articulated.
@@Kontraleah God made salvation very simple. It's man that has complicated it. Read His word and seek Him. The book of Romans is a great book about salvation.
Very interesting if we consider in that short story we hear him doing a few things 1) proclaiming Christ and defending Christ 2) Apologetically defending Christ. This makes me think of the farisee and the republican praying.
Romans 8:9 KJV - But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
What was the fruit of his repentance? His rebuke of the other criminal.
All the Prodigal son did was apologize. His nature didn't change he was still The Prodigal Son. No fruit of repentance what-so-ever. But the father gave him gifts and threw him a party anyway and it bothered everyone.
Dan Saber did u even read the story of the prodigal son? What were his fruits of repentance? *He came back and humbled himself before his Father willing to be His slave.*
fruit of repentance is belief, he changed his mind from UNBELIEF to BELIEVING thats true REPENTANCE my friend
@@lukeswann2859 we will all be called before the Lord this is not an option. and when we get there, He will not be interested in the apology. Because it's vain. The story is about unconditional love.
@@livingwater7580 if that's what you call repentance I wouldn't accept it. Didn't seem like any of the siblings were too happy about it. His name is prodigal not repentant
Faith to believe and ask is salvation. Everything beyond that is a desire to do works. The works and baptism isn't the salvation. It's the result of our new nature.
God wants us. He wants loves us wants so much- to hold hug it seems like also- that he is willing to go through bad stuff to get us to get us. God Jesus loves us so much that he doesn’t have pride or stubbornness or is hurt offended that we last minute want to go to heaven get saved is how I see it.
JESUS said if "I" be lifted up "I" will draw "ALL" men unto myself.
Jesus is the predestined one the CALLED the CHOSEN, ELECT WHEN WE BELIEVE WE ARE FORKNOWN BY THE FATHER
Paul says in Romans 8 those whom he JUSTIFIED he GLORIFIED
SANCTIFICATION is not a prerequisite for SALVATION it is for inheretance and rewards,
Tim is teaching law keeping and obedience for salvation and thats the ministry of the holy spirit in the life long sanctification period of a justified by FAITH individual,
if you have trusted in CHRIST you should never doubt your SALVATION if tou doubt you have not believed the gospel or have been preached a false gospel, Salvation is the work of God not us.
if you live in the flesh you will reap of the flesh but eternal life is by believing on the only one who can give it to you and thats Jesus whom by FAITH ALONE we receive him, nothing else
be blessed
Tim could you pray for my family . I had a good God fearing church to go to until they moved to far away to pick me up. But I keep on being uninvited to come back for questing their doctrines exspecialy those who preach just ask Jesus in your heart.
What does the word repent mean? It does not mean turn from sin. It does not mean repent of sin. It means to change your mind and BELIEVE the gospel. It means to go from UNBELIEF to belief. Change your mind. Believe Jesus died to pay our sin debt in full so we can never ever be condemned again. John 3:18.
I would also add, the act of the thief proclaiming that Jesus was God, by asking the man tempting Christ, he was confessing his faith as well. There was a work right there on the cross, that was evidence of his faith, which was confessing he believed Jesus was able to save him. I would also add, in regards to the moment of having the knowledge of the truth, I would reference Proverbs 28:9, Which states that if you turn your ear from the law, your prayer will even be an abomination to God. And Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sin. I would say that both men received knowledge of the truth that day, and one repented and believed, the evidence was his confession, that was his work that justified his faith, his faith in Christ brought Him to Christ's righteousness. While the other man willfully sinned, and tempted the Lord God, and mocked him, this was his work, his denial of who Christ was, and he was not saved.
All the Prodigal son did was apologize. His nature didn't change he was still The Prodigal Son. No fruit of repentance what-so-ever. But the father gave him gifts and threw him a party anyway and it bothered everyone.
Dan Saber The peace prodigal son was repentance when he returned home, repentance brought him to his father.
@@truthprevails1260 He came home because he was a screw up. You know the kind. His father didn't even care he apologized. He wasn't concerned with what he did. He's still The Prodigal Son. Why else did it bother everyone? There's no transformation here. I wouldn't say he's changed would you? And where's the fruit of repentance? What is the point of the story?
Dan Saber As it's written, the prodigal son was not faithful with what he'd been given, because he chose to not serve his father and take his blessings and squander them on things of the world. When he saw there was no gain in the world, and his riches were wasted, he wished to return home, but felt unworthy. He decided to tell his father his sins against him, and all his brother's servants had more than he. However, he was willing to return to his father's house, a servant, rather than an heir. Being contrite of heart, repentant, and humble before his father. His father knew, his son would only return humble, because he knew there would be guilt. So, when his father saw him coming by the way, he rejoiced, for only meekness of heart would allow his return, his father was happy to see his son return, nonetheless. The son humbled himself, repented, and returned to his father, his father loved him, and accepted him, unconditionally. This is the meaning of the story. Nevertheless, there was INDEED repentance. The willingness to become the servant of his father's house.
@@truthprevails1260 so is he still The Prodigal Son? Where's the fruit of repentance? Why was everyone else so upset but the father?
It is true that the thief acknowledged JESUS is a sinless, maybe he has faith also in JESUS these are our only human reasoning BUT who can tell the exact reason why our LORD JESUS saved the one thief. In Isiah 55:8-9 8 ¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Romans 11:33-36 36 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Because circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter!
He did repent he admitted he was a sinner and asked God to remember him(forgive him) and if we do that God saves us. :)
Angela Mergist and his fruit was rebuking one of our Lord’s persecutors in his most vulnerable state. That was the evidence of his justification by Faith. Sounds like a good work to me.
So .... was it because he was about to be killed that he was able to be saved ? What if for whatever reason he wasn’t going to die on the cross ... would the thief be required to make restitution for his sins before he would be saved ? Just curious. Is restitution required for salvation ?
Things like restitution are fruits of salvation.
The theif believed on Jesus that settles it that guy would go to heaven regardless once he died then or 20 years later salvation is forever
Sam with the question is confused because he been listening to tim.
I was wondering what happened to the good people who died before jesus died did they go to heaven
Chris Rogers ruclips.net/video/cW_NncAbjJs/видео.html
Here you go.
There aren't any good ppl besides Jesus
God's solution was to create "Abraham's Bosom" (Luke 16:22), a special place that was set apart from the rest of hell by a great gap or gulf. This arrangement was temporary, because after Jesus died, he went to Abraham's Bosom and led those who were there into heaven.
The Bible does teach the Sinner's Prayer and accepting Jesus into you're heart in different ways. It's clear that it's by calling on the Lord and turning from sin. It's just that simple.
Accepting Jesus as Lord and walk with him in the faith.
Focus on that
15:15 He said Abel was the first true child of God. Were Adam and Eve not saved?
They fell from grace
How do I know if I been called?
I would say that simply because you are questioning whether or not you have been called is evidence that God is working with you as of now. We are called to repent and believe the gospel. If you believe then you will repent, they go hand in hand. Firstly, evaluate whether or not you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who lived a perfect life on earth (not just fulfilling the law but also always doing His Fathers will), that He suffered on the cross for the penalty of your sins (recognize that you are a sinner and have never done Gods will, all your days have been evil), that Jesus died and rose again the 3rd day so that you may be justified from all of your wickedness. Now, belief is a gift from God so I earnestly implore you to call out to Jesus to save you, I literally mean cry to Him for help. Jesus is faithful, trustworthy, never fails, patient, and kind. Jesus is the treasure and the reward, nothing is better than Him. If you truly believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior then you will continue following Him no matter what happens, you will grow in peace, joy, holiness, and obedience to Him. I'll pray for you Steve Rogers.
Justin Beer well said brother.
Thank you I really appreciate it. I'm not sure what's going on right now. Sometimes I think gods working on me and sometimes I doubt it. I do believe what you said and I believe I'm repenting but then again the bible says the demons believe that too I'm not having any victory over sin it just seems like a constant battle that's never gonna be won. I seriously don't know what's wrong with me I do know it's something bad and it really bothers me.
Steve Rogers by believe we mean have faith in Jesus. In other words trust Him, not in a simple; believing what he said was true belief.... But in a throwing your whole life on Him kind of trust.
“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved”
R Per if you read the gospels you will see that there is indeed a false, shallow belief that doesn’t save.
Didn't fully understand that argument from romains
Matthias, Romans 4:4-5 and following, the simple point he was making is that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. We are not saved by our works. Good works may be an indication of salvation, but not the means of salvation. Hope this helps to clarify a bit.
The theif on the cross had faith, he believed, he repented, and he was justified by works when he defended Jesus.
Scripture tells us so:
The Book Of James ch 2
"You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without works is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead."
Interesting. Good point 👍
fruit of repentance?
ilkin engin it means showing you actually meant what you said in your repentance by changing the way you live. Example if you repent from stealing or any sins but you go back the next day and steal something there’s no fruit in that repentance but if you go back the next day and are tempted to steal at a store again but you turn away from it and and don’t do it because you know you repented the other day of that same sin then that’s fruit of repentance
While the crowd was a Lynch mob and the murderer was railing Jesus, the theif sides with Jesus and declared Jesus was God. This theif believed!!! Salvation is believing in Jesus Christ.
Jesus wasn't just handing out free passes for salvation, the sinner had no good works to buy salvation, he believed.
And don't we read this over and over in the book of John.
This message from Tim is in direct contradiction to many of his other sermons, he talks out of both sides of his mouth.
Romans 4:5. But to him that worketh not, does nothing, but BELIEVETH on Him who JUSTIFIETH the UNGDODLY, his faith is counted for His perfect righteousness. Romans 4:6. Just as David , who committed adultery and murder, describeth the BLESSEDNESS of the man to whom the Lord IMPUTETH righteousness, APART FROM WORKS. Romans 4:7-8. Blessed is the man whose sins are covered, blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not IMPUTE sin. First John 2:2. And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD. But, John 3:18. Those who have believed the gospel have eternal life.
Romans 3:26-28. For He is the JUST and the JUSTIFIER of them that believe in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of works? Nay, but by the law of FAITH. Therefore we conclude a man is JUSTIFIED by FAITH apart from the deeds of the law. For by the law shall no flesh be JUSTIFIED. Romans 4:2-3. God only sees faith, not law/works. Acts 16:31 Period. John 3:16. Jesus said it, we believe it, and that settles it. The debt is paid. John 3:18. No longer condemned.
Galatians 1:6-9. Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you, (First Corinthians 15:1-4) LET HIM BE ACCURSED. As we said before, so say I again. If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received from us, (First Corinthians 15:1-4) LET HIM BE ACCURSED.
The gospel has not changed in 2,000 years. First Corinthians 15:1-4. It saved the thief on the cross and the Philippian jailor. Acts 16:31. God will save anyone who accepts His Son as full payment for all our sin.
Romans 6:23. For the penalty for sin is death, But, (the good news) the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE, through Jesus finished work on the cross plus nothing. It is a free GIFT to all who believe on the name of the Son of God. John 1:12. First John 5:13. These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. John 6:47. Gods promise to us. God cannot lie. John 5:24. John 6:40, and John 6:29. Acts 16:31, PERIOD. Romans 11:6. Romans 1:16.
John 10:28-29. Hebrews 13:5. He will never leave us or forsake us. Ephesians 1:13-14. Ephesians 4:30.
So how was the thief saved? He believed Jesus was the Son of God who died to pay for our sin debt. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. The blood of Jesus covers us from all sin. First John 1:8. If we say we have no sin, we DECEIVE ourselves, and the TRUTH is not in us. First Timothy 2:4. John 6:40.
I am so utterly confused about God. Y'all often say, "scripture clearly states..." followed by copy-and-pasted scripture; and respectfully - nothing about this ancient text is clear. Why do you believe that?
Is there a specific matter in regards to salvation that you are finding unclear from the Bible? In 2 Peter 3:16 Peter says about Paul's writings, "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures." -- So yes, there are many difficult areas in the Bible.
We also have Matthew 13:13-14 - This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'"You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive." -- What should a person who who feels like they "do not see" and "do not understand"? Their inability should humble them to go to the Cross and confess to the Lord that they are blind but that they want sight... and the Lord will give that sight mercifully and freely!
@@illbehonest Why should my inability to see and understand humble me to confess anything? What does confession matter if I am not one of God's elect? That seems like works-based salvation. I'm so irritated just trying to figure out what I need to do in order to be saved.
@@Kontraleah Why do you seek salvation?
@@mrsshmarek Hi. This was 7 months ago. I don’t anymore. Kind of regretting having a publicly documented record of my wrestling. Oh well. Maybe it will help someone. 🙂
@@Kontraleah Well, I’m glad you did speak out. I’ve had my share of wrestling, as well! Along with MANY questions/frustrations. If you’d ever be interested/willing in sharing any past “wrestlings,” questions or frustrations, I’d be happy to chat. I wonder if we’ve had similar ponderings. 😊
Dismus died a thief & stole Heaven.
When I hear someone ask...Can we be saved like the thief on the cross, I tell them this...
First,
the thief on the cross was saved because Jesus spoke his sins forgiven (Luke 23:43). Jesus had power while on earth to remit sins (Matthew 9:1-8).
Second,
It cannot be proven that the thief had not been baptized. Multitudes came from Judaea to John the Baptist to be baptized of him (Matthew 3:5). Also, the thief had some knowledge of the coming kingdom (Luke 23:42). Where had he heard this “kingdom message?” This was John the Baptist’s message from the beginning of his work (Matthew 3:2). Thus, there is some evidence to suggest the thief had been taught at an earlier time.
Paul said a man who received the baptism of John was to believe on the one who is to come, Jesus (Acts 19:4).
The thief certainly did this. However, it is a moot point as Jesus clearly stated the thief would join Him in paradise that same day.
James said, “You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24, emphasis mine TC). Earlier, James said the demons believe and tremble (2:19). Are the demons saved?
There is not one verse in all the Bible relegating baptism to being nothing more than a symbol.
There is not one verse in all the Bible relegating baptism to being nothing more than a symbol. Concerning Jesus and His teaching on baptism, you might hear, “Jesus says it is very important, yes, but not how you are actually saved.”
What Jesus said was - “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” This is not difficult to understand. Jesus specifically joined faith in the gospel message and baptism to salvation. The two verbs are joined by the conjunction “and” which places equal value on each action as necessary to receive salvation. Have an English teacher diagram Mark 16:16 and then ask him is both belief and baptism are necessary to be saved.
Additionally, how can one deny baptism when Saul of Tarsus was told in Acts 22:16 to “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”? This verse not only shows the washing away of sins taking place in baptism, but also explains how one “calls on the name of the Lord” in order to be saved (cf Acts 2:21; Rom 10:13).
Finally, Peter’s statement in 1 Peter 3:21 should put this argument to rest once and for all. The KJV reads, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth now also save us.” The NASB reads, “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you - not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
The fact that baptism is missing from the last half of Mark 16:16 is irrelevant. If one does not believe in Jesus, he is condemned already (John 3:18) and baptism is not an option for him. Consider the following example:
I am a physician, and everyone on the planet has a deadly disease. The only cure for the disease is to pass through a machine in my office. Therefore, it may be rightfully said, “Whosoever comes to my office and passes through the machine shall live, but whosoever will not come to my office shall die.” Do I have to mention “and does not pass through the machine” for people to understand the necessity of coming to the office AND passing through the machine? To ask the question is to answer.
Consider also the situation in Numbers 21 and the fiery serpents. Anyone bitten by one of these serpents had to go to where Moses had lifted up the brass serpent and look upon it in order to be saved. If Moses had said, “Whosoever comes to the brass serpent and looks upon it shall live, but whosoever does not come to the brass serpent shall die,” do you think people would understand the necessity of both? Then why do people refuse to understand Mark 16:16? It’s not that difficult!
My perspective on baptism comes from the many other verses that could be cited to show the absolute necessity of baptism for remission of sins.
• Read Acts 2:36-41 and tell me if those people thought baptism was necessary for remission of sins.
• Read Acts 22:16 and tell me if Saul of Tarsus thought baptism was necessary for remission of sins.
• Read 1 Peter 3:21 and tell me if baptism has any connection to salvation.
To deny the essentiality of baptism for salvation is to deny the clear statements of Jesus and the inspired writers.
It's important to acknowledge that Jesus said John truly baptized in water but you shall be baptized in spirit (Acts 1:5, John also said in Matthew 3:11). So the thief did not need a water baptism, he was sealed (baptized) with the Holy Spirit of promise when he believed (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:13).
@@cz5836 I have to agree with you on this. I confess with my lips that Christ is Lord. I repent from my sins. The next day I die in a car crash on the way to my baptism. Am I not justified? I believe we are baptized in Spirit and we do water baptism as a public profession of our faith. 1 Peter 3:21. Water is only a symbol. We are made clean through the blood of Christ.
You do not have to be baptized in water to be saved.
We are saved by grace through faith.
The thief on the cross acknowledged, in his heart, that Jesus Christ was The Son of God. That is the only Biblical prerequisite for eternal salvation.
John 3:14
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life
In the Old Testament, the only thing a person had to do to be healed was to look upon the serpent on the cross. Jesus became sin and is the physical representation of the serpent on the cross.
The answer is that the thief was not saved to reign with Jesus as part of the Kingdom of Heaven in the first resurrection. That would not have been possible because the thief died before Jesus' resurrection, ascension, and dispensation of the Holy Spirit, which is when the Disciples of Jesus were born again for the first time in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and which is the only way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven as an heir to the Heavenly Kingdom (John 3:3-13; Acts 2:1-4; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
In fact, the thief was not told that he was saved at all. The thief asked Jesus "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus assured him on that day that 'He would be with Him in Paradise.' (Luke 23:42-43).
As noted the timing of the situation is critical in understanding what was actually promised the thief and the words used in the text are also critical to understanding what Jesus meant. What Jesus meant by telling the thief that 'he would be with Him in Paradise' is that the thief would be resurrected to the new Earth as a subject of Christ's Kingdom and allowed to live under that Kingdom for a thousand years. If by the end of the thousand years the thief had been judged as righteous and His name found in the Lamb's Book of Life then he would enter eternity with all of the others that had passed through the judgment of the second resurrection and not experienced the second death. That new Earth under the Millennial Kingdom of Christ is Paradise which is what the Earth is called when it is ruled by and in harmony with God's Kingdom.
It is interesting to note that the other criminal on the Cross will also be in the second resurrection since as Romans 5:6-8 states "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (refer to 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:2)." And as 1 Corinthians 15:21-23a states "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order (compare Romans 5:18)..."
Therefore, unlike all of those who heard the gospel of Jesus since His death and resurrection and followed Him and as a result were promised a place in His Kingdom by a resurrection that was not subject to the judgment and the second death but were to reign with Him in the Heavenly Kingdom that would return to Earth to regenerate Paradise and judge the Nations (Matthew 19:28; 25:31-32; John 5:24-25; John 17:9-21; Luke 14-20, 22:24-30; Revelation 1:6; 5:9-10; 20:4-6), the thief was assured of the hope of entry into the New Earth under the Millennial Kingdom where he would be able to make of his second chance at life one that led to eternal life as a subject of the Kingdom of God (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:33-34; Revelation 20:11-21:4; compare with Isaiah 9:6-7; 65:17-25).
The letter to the Hebrews makes clear the distinction that those of the Heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1) have a better resurrection than even the Ancient and faithful Hebrews and Nation of Israel Patriarchs and Prophets because they would not receive this first resurrection to reign with Christ as Kings and Priests of God's Kingdom but that we who had followed Christ would receive this better resurrection though by the end of the regeneration of a new Earth at the end of the thousand years we would all be united into one universal family o God with God being all in all (Hebrews 11:39-40; compare Ephesians 1:3-23; 3:8-19; Colossians 1:15-20).
Jesus Himself made this distinction in Matthew 11:11 when He said "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
So where the thief was promised to be with the Lord and King of God's Kingdom in Paradise (a new Earth: the regenerated Garden) there are several important theological and legal issues that prevent the thief from entering the Kingdom of Heaven:
1. The thief was dead before the Lord was resurrected, ascended, and had dispensed the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is required for entry into the Kingdom of Heaven by the first resurrection (John 1:12-13, 26-29; 3:3-13; compare Acts 10:44-47; 19:1-7).
2. The thief had not entered into the new covenant with Jesus by means of Baptism and Communion (Mark 16:16; Luke 22:14-20, 28-30; Galatians 3:26-29; Colossians 2:11-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22).
So to be clear, the problem with the concept that the thief is saved is that salvation in the sense of being born again in water and the Spirit of God to reign with Christ in the Heavenly Kingdom in the age to come only became possible after the Baptism of Holy Spirit ten days after Jesus had ascended into Heaven. Before then all who lived and died would be resurrected into a Paradise New Earth the was Ruled by that Heavenly Kingdom. The thief will be resurrected in Paradise with Jesus but will not be a new creation son of God but a human being subject of the kingdom of God until the end of the thousand years where if His resurrection works out for Him he will then move on past the judgment into eternity with all of God's family (John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:7-21:8).
The problem with the doctrine that permits death bed conversions such as the thief is not that the Bible does not teach that God has a plan of salvation for those individuals but that it is the same plan as for those that believed and were baptized and followed Christ entering into a new covenant with Him and sharing in His sufferings. This one dimensional plan of salvation that lumps everyone from all circumstances and situations and epochs into the same category of salvation is not received from scripture and is not the whole truth of God's plan and purpose (John 16:23) but it is received from Reform and Calvinist Theology that is incomplete and has some major errors in the way it interprets scripture, including and especially in the area of salvation regarding who, what, why, where, and how.
I pray and hope I was not too upsetting or offensive. For the record, I do believe that Reform and Calvinist Believers can and will be saved if they endure in faithfulness to Christ and do not Deny the power of His Sacrificial Atonement by His sinless death, resurrection, and ascension. There is certainly room in the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles for varying viewpoints and methods (Mark 9:38-41; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7). But the Reformation and the Protestant Theology of Luther and Calvin and their peers were merely incomplete, partial, moves of the Holy Spirit, such as Huss and Tyndale, and the pre-Reformation Martyrs / Witnesses, and the many that have been used by the Holy Spirit since in order to bring the Church of Christ, the Earthly remnant of His Heavenly Bride, out of the Apostasy that drowned it after the death of the last Apostle and that ultimately was consolidated first into the Imperial Church of Rome, that is The Nicene or Catholic Church that ultimately became the monstrosity of the Holy Roman Empire, which was neither Holy nor Roman; fittingly since everything about it was a lie, and that continued under the European Kings as Heads of the Nation State Churches of Europe and the Western World under Protestantism. Unfortunately, the Devil who sows the tares among the wheat within the Church since the beginning always demands a pound of flesh for every truth the Holy Spirit reveals to subvert the lies and destroy the work of the Devil (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; Acts 20:29; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 John 2:18-19) as history shows from the crucifixion of the Lord, to the martyrdom of the Apostles, to the inquisitions of the Catholics and Protestants to the Thirty Years War, to what we see throughout History down to this day where the Russian Orthodox Church is persecuting and obstructing Evangelism outside of the Church by Born Again Christians in Russia under penalty of imprisonment and many other lesser or greater Blasphemies and Sins against the Holy Spirit. Not to speak of what Islam has done and is doing and stood for against Christ's Disciples while claiming to be a people of the Book and holding Christ as even greater than their so called Prophet and believing in the Virgin Birth.
God bless you. The truth keeps marching on.
I have a few questions, are you available?
repent of your sins is UNBIBLICAL in new testament and it is works, obedience is works, prayer is works, you have to just BELIEVE THE GOSPEL in your heart and you have repented from unbelief to BELIEVING This is true REPENTANCE
living water what? Repenting of your sins is unbiblical? Did John not make straight the way of the Lord?
“Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."”
Matthew 3:1-2 NASB
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."”
Matthew 4:17 NASB
“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."”
Luke 13:3-5 NASB
“Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.”
Matthew 11:20 NASB
“I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.”
Revelation 2:21-22 NASB
“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live."”
Ezekiel 18:32 NASB
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."”
Acts 17:30-31 NASB
Repenting is only of unbelief, really? What about this revelation which says the wicked did not repent of their works?
“The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.”
Revelation 9:20-21 NASB
@@zachariah7114 Why do you believe this? I'm just trying to decipher things myself, and I'm personally asking a lot of questions trying to figure out the truth about my purpose in this world, and wanting to reach my highest potential and usefulness to others, and make the world a better place; so one thing I'm trying to understand is why do people believe this? All of it...?