Most Popular thief in the world

Lk. 23:39-43Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Lk. 23:39-43 Jesus was crucified between two thieves Both mocked Him - Matt.27:39-44 One asked to be remembered - v. 42

“Today you will be with Me in paradise” v. 43

What did the thief ask ?

What does Paradise mean?

What did Christ answer mean?

Was the thief saved?

Was the thief baptized?

“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Lk. 23:42

Many thought it would be an earthly kingdom – Matt. 20:20-28; Acts 1:6

Did he understand it to be a spiritual kingdom? Probably thought Christ would come down from cross When you save yourself, save me

What did the thief ask ?

Does not mean heaven - Jn. 20:17 “I have not yet ascended to my Father.”

He was in Hades - Acts 2:31 “he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.”

What does Paradise mean?

Rest

Torment

JesusThief

Lk. 16:19-3116:19-31

“Today you will be with Me in paradise” Lk. 23:43

Did not mean the grave Souls would be together in paradise – Jn. 5:28-29 Thief - stolen - SIN - “You are forgiven” Jesus forgave sin on the spot – Lk. 7:48, Mk. 2:5 In both cases, neither asked for forgiveness

What did Christ’s answer mean?

Yes

Jesus went into paradise after His death He promised the thief would be there also

Was the thief saved?

Not at this time while he was on the cross

He could have been baptized earlier John baptized multitudes - Matt. 3:5-6 He knew something about Christ & His Kingdom He was probably a “Jew”

Was the thief baptized?

Not an example of conversion for us

Col. 2:14 - law of Moses - “Nailing it to his cross”Gal. 4:4 “born under the law”

both lived and died under the Law of Moses

Heb. 9:15-17“For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.”

Not an example of conversion for us

Before his death Jesus could save the thief While living the testator can change his will

Examples“thy sins be forgiven” Lk. 7:48Zacchaeus - Lk. 19:9Man with Palsy - Mk. 2:5

Not an example of conversion for us

“He takes away the first that He may establish the second.” Heb. 10:9-10

First = Law of MosesSecond = Law of Christ

Not an example of conversion for us

He gave the Great commission - Mk.16:15-16 Terms of salvation revealed

Pentecost Acts 2:38 - Repent + BaptismActs 2:41 - 3,000 were baptized

If the thief had been living on Pentecost, he would have had to be baptized for the remission of his sins

If the thief went to heaven without being baptized then I can go to heaven without being baptized.

If Enoch went to heaven without dying then I can go to heaven without dying.

If Elijah was translated and went to heaven without dying then I can be translated and go to heaven without dying.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” Heb. 9:27

Is not an example for us to follow in becoming a Christian

There were two thieves First one was saved Second one was lost

If we try to be saved like the first thief,then we will be lost like the second one.

In Christ

= SAVED

Baptized - Gal.3:27

Confess - Rom.10:10

Hear - Rom.10:17

Believe - John8:24

Repent - Luke13:3