How Could the Thief on the Cross Be Saved? - Ask Pastor Tim

So this is from Sam Rodman.

He writes, "Hello, Tim.

Please clarify this for me..."

Now what I'm wanting you to think

is somebody asks you this question.

How would you answer?

Where would you go in Scripture?

What would your counsel be

to an individual that asked you this?

"Please clarify this for me.

Regarding the thief on the cross,

how do you compare
his salvation with ours?"

So he's obviously thinking

that there's something different

about his salvation and ours.

"How do you compare them?

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.

Thank you very much.
Sincerely, Sam Rodman."

Now I know this is probably an easy one.

But here's the thing,

you want to answer people biblically.

You want to answer them clearly.

You want to lay down a good,

strong explanation or argument

if you're answering.

So how do you answer?

Maybe the first thing we need to do

is open up our Bibles to Luke 23

to the passage where
the thief on the cross -

it's the only account in the Gospels

of this thief being saved.

We see him show up in the others,

but this is the only one
that we're actually told.

I think that's interesting.

Do you guys find that interesting?

That the other authors could refer to him

but not mention that he got saved?

Doesn't that make you wonder

what all manner of things
we're not told about?

Anyway...

Luke 23.

Do you guys all have it?

So, I'll start reading in verse 39.

"One of the criminals who were hanged

railed at Him..."

Railed at Christ.

"...Saying, 'Are You not the Christ?

Save Yourself and us!'

But the other rebuked him, saying,

'Do you not fear God

since you are under the same sentence

of condemnation?

And we indeed justly,

for we're receiving the
reward of our deeds.

But this Man has done nothing wrong.'

And he said, 'Jesus, remember me

when You come into Your kingdom.'

And He said to him, "Truly, I say to you,

today, you will be with Me in paradise.'"

So hear his question again:

"Please clarify this for me.

Regarding the thief 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."

I think that's one of
the telling statements.

"He did not live right...

yet Jesus saved him anyway."

Basically what that communicates

is the fact that he's having difficulty

figuring out what salvation looks like.

I mean, I think he has a difficulty

discerning between what saves

versus what proves that we're saved.

There is a proof of
salvation in Scripture.

There's various characteristics

of genuine Christianity that come up

all over the Scriptures.

And yet, that's not the same thing.

The proofs of what it means to be saved

are not the same thing as being saved.

And he perhaps is not clear on that.

"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."

Now, actually I don't know what he means.

I mean, I understand what he's saying,

but I think he's implying there

that you know what I mean
and would agree with me

that we can't rely on that.

But I would not go down that path.

We certainly can rely -

any example in Scripture
where somebody is converted,

obviously we can rely on that.

So what do you say?

(from the room)

So he said that he hadn't repented?

But here it sounds like he was repenting?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding
what he's saying.

No, you were understanding exactly right.

You're saying that he has mentioned here

that there's no evidence
that this thief repented.

But he doesn't really
quote the account at all.

He doesn't make any
reference to the account

other than the fact that it happened.

Yes, you're exactly right.

Let's just look at the text.

The proofs of repentance,

the proofs of salvation are here.

They're here in the text.

But I don't think that
that's the biggest issue.

The biggest issue is this:

he says, "he did not live right,

yet Jesus saved him anyway."

What's his assumption?

(unintelligible)

God saves those who live right.

One of the greatest texts in my opinion

concerning the glory of the Gospel

is found in Romans 4:5.

Let's look at it,

because it just so brings
to light the reality.

And it really says that the statement

that he makes here is diametrically

wrong and opposed to
what the Gospel teaches.

If we go to Romans -

do you want a Bible?

Okay.

Do you have a photographic memory?

(unintelligible)

It's no problem at all.

If you want one just shout,

we'll dig one up for you.

But in Romans 4:5

we have this statement:

(I'm going to start reading in v. 4).

"Now to the one who works..."

The idea here is a person who is working;

a person who in their own effort

is trying to gain favor with God.

"...His wages are not counted as a gift."

In other words, if you
work to get to Heaven,

you merited it if it were possible.

It's a wage.

You basically were good

and you earned something.

That's the idea. That's
what he's teaching there.

"His wages are not counted as a gift,

but as his due.

And to the one who does not work

but believes in Him who
justifies the ungodly,

his faith is counted as righteousness."

So on the one hand, you
have the person that works.

He gets a wage.

The wage is his due.

That's over against the
person who doesn't work,

but he believes in the God

who justifies the ungodly.

To justify is a legal term.

He's declared righteous.

The truth that we find

is that God saves the ungodly

by pronouncing ungodly people righteous.

This happens through
faith in Jesus Christ.

What did the thief on the cross do?

He was justified by faith.

He was saved not because
of his own merits.

God justifies the ungodly.

Was the guy ungodly? Yes.

He was a thief.

He was dying for his crimes.

The proof of his repentance;

the proof that something was genuine here

would be demonstrated in what?

(from the room)

"We're getting what we justly deserve."

Tim: That's one thing.

Admitting your sin.

That's a good indication.

Remember what repentance is.

Repentance is - the "repent" in English

is to think again.

Or, from the Greek term,

we get this idea of an afterthought

or to change one's mind.

The idea is he changed
his mind about himself.

The other guy was justifying himself.

(incomplete thought)

The other guy was mocking.

This man was admitting.

He had a change of mind.

His mind had been changed to recognize

he was a sinner,

that he deserved what he was getting.

Not only did his mind
change about himself,

who else did his mind change about?

(from the room) Christ.

Tim: What are two things

he recognized about Christ?

(from the room)

He said, "Do you not fear God?"

So I'm thinking wow, he knows

something is going on here.

Tim: I would bring that back more

to a proper evaluation of himself.

He's a sinner.

There's a reason to fear God

because he's headed towards trouble.

But what are the two things
about Christ that he recognizes?

James: He believes Christ is perfect.

Tim: Yes, he believed He did not have sin

and he believed He had a kingdom.

He's asking Him to remember him.

He's looking for salvation.

He's asking.

So would you say
anything else to this guy?

James: Just a quick question.

In Matthew it mentions
the robbers (plural)

were mocking Him.

So is it your understanding that

this man's change of mind...

Tim: Yes, I would say his change of mind

happened on the cross.

He repented on the cross.

He came to faith on the cross.

James: So what would you say led to that?

I mean, we know the
supernatural power of God,

but was there the sayings of Christ?

Tim: We don't see anything
more than we're told.

I mean, yes, I think there's
every reason to believe

from the parallel accounts

that in the beginning he was mocking,

but something began to happen.

He was observing something.

Anybody know what things were said?

(from the room)

If you are the Son of God,

come down from the cross

and we'll believe in You.

Tim: I'm talking about the things that
were said by Christ Himself.

What would this thief have heard said?

(from the room): Forgive them.

Tim: Forgive them.
They know not what they do.

What else would he have seen?

James: It's interesting how they were

just mocking Christ,

and He didn't defend Himself in pride.

So that man witnessed that.

That's not Christ saying something,

but that speaks volumes to see

His response to this
reviling and everything.

(from the room)

They would have seen Christ

entrust His mother.

Tim: Yes.

He would have seen Jesus look down

at John and His mother, and say,

"Behold your son; behold your mother."

He says this:

"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."

But here's the thing,

every individual is saved how?

What does Scripture say?

Saved by grace through faith.

We are justified by faith.

Who is the father of the faith?

I mean, again, let's go back

to the argument in Romans 4.

Abraham was justified by faith.

And what we're told is righteousness

was counted to him because of the faith.

And it's not counted to him only.

And all of this is not
done simply for his sake.

And in fact, we're told
that this happened,

that Abraham believed God

and it was counted to
him for righteousness

before he was circumcised

in order that he might be
the father of the faithful

whether they're circumcised
or not circumcised.

(incomplete thought)

You go to Hebrews 11.

By faith... Abel.

All the way back to the very first person

who was a genuine child of God.

It was by faith. It's
always been by faith.

And so I wouldn't agree

that we can't rely on this.

What we would say is that every account

in Scripture where somebody was converted,

we can rely on.

The reality is we're saved by faith.

I think where Sam is having the problem

is that the length of time

didn't exist.

So he's having trouble understanding how

if that life is not demonstrated,

how could he actually be saved?

But that's actually a wrong understanding

of what it is to be saved.

We're saved in a legal fashion.

Declared righteous.

Counted righteous.

The unjust, the ungodly,

wicked people, bad people,

sinners are counted righteous

in a moment in the courtroom of God

when faith is exercised in Jesus Christ

dying on that cross;

in Jesus being that Savior,

and looking to Him and trusting Him;

trusting in His merits,
trusting Him to save.

That's what this man did.

(incomplete thought)

I mean, that "remember me" -

he's talking to the only
One that can save him.

And isn't it amazing?

What did he hear that
he's actually thinking

that Christ is going to enter a kingdom?

Remember me when You
come into Your kingdom?

I wonder what he even thought

when he said that?

Isn't that interesting?

Here you have Christ dying

seemingly defeated.

That's what those down
on the ground were thinking.

That's what the other thief was thinking.

That's what the two on
the road to Emmaus -

even His disciples were thinking.

We thought it was Him,
but it can't be Him,

because they killed Him!

They crucified Him.

And you remember, this
was after Jesus came forth

and He's walking with these guys.

"Haven't You heard all these
things that are happening?"

What things are happening?

"Well, we thought He was the Christ.

We thought He was the Savior.

But He's not."

Why would they think that He wasn't?

Well, because He died.

Isn't that amazing?

This guy is being put to death

right next to Him.

He's dying on the cross.

His life is ebbing away

though He gave up His life

of His own accord.

But He's over here dying on this cross.

He's over here bleeding.

He's over here suffering,

obviously going to die.

And this man has the faith to believe

that somewhere in all
of this there's triumph.

There's a kingdom.

That Christ is actually the Jewish king.

That's what Pilate put up there.

The king! What did he put?

This is the King of the Jews.

And he believed that.

And that's what faith is.

We live by faith, not by sight.

If you're talking about sight,

yeah, you'd talk like the other guy.

You'd tell Him, "You're the Christ.
Why aren't You saving Yourself?

What's this all about?
Why aren't You saving us?

Come down if You're the Christ."

The whole thing looks hopeless

from man's point of view.

He's dead!

They're killing our King?

What's this? This is the One we hoped...

and now?

We thought He was going to usher
in a Kingdom and He's dying.

This thing's looking pretty
hopeless right now.

And yet, in the midst of all of it -

and you've got to remember,

he's not sitting there
like you're sitting there.

He's hanging on spikes.

His own life is ebbing away.

And somehow in the midst of all that,

where he was mocking in the beginning

it seems,

and now there's been this turn.

We don't know exactly all the mechanism

that God used to bring this change about,

but we know this -

you know what happened

when the disciples recognized

that the Gospel had gone to the Gentiles?

You remember how they phrased it?

That God has also granted repentance

to the Gentiles.

Repentance is granted.

Repentance is something God gives.

It's something the Spirit
of God works in people.

So definitely God was at work

bringing faith.

It's the miracle of salvation.

God saves in a moment.

(incomplete thought)

What's the order?

That came up down in Mexico - the order.

(incomplete thought)

What we find is that God calls

and then God justifies

and then God glorifies.

That seems to be the order.

To foreknow, to predestine, to call.

That's what we have there in Romans 8.

There's a call. There's an effectual call

and the sinner hears it.

Jesus said, "You can't come unto Me

unless My Father who
has sent Me draws you."

And there's this draw and this call,

much like Lazarus: "Come forth!"

And he came forth from the grave.

There's power in that call

to raise from the dead.

And then the sinner responds

in repentance and faith.

But I think Sam's big problem

is that he's very much confusing

salvation and what
proves that we're saved.

Because the reality is this:

the fruit - it looks good, right?

Even in that account,

even though it wasn't given

lots of time to develop.

The fruit looks good already

just in those few moments.

And undoubtedly if he
was allowed to live a life,

then the reality of
the fruit of the Spirit

would have all the more blossomed

and taken maturity in his life.

Anything else on that one?

(from the room)

I have a question.

Does the parable of the manager

paying his employees equally

just by their hours worked,

does that apply at all here?

As far as the timeline of
this man being saved?

Tim: Well, actually,

the parable you're talking about

would be a great portion of Scripture

to take him to.

The truth is that...

(I've got a mouth full of coffee grounds).

The truth is those who are saved

early in the day - at a young age -

the picture, the parable is

the Master calling workers
out to the vineyard.

And some get called early in the day

and some get called
right at the end of the day.

And yet at the end,

they're all given a denarius.

And those who work the entire day

are looking and thinking

that they should get more,

but actually it's the same.

It seems to indicate what?

(from the room)

Entitlement?

Jealousy?

You've got the parable
of the prodigal son.

His brother refused to
come in to the banquet

because he'd stayed there
and worked all his life.

And his brother went out

and did all this stuff.

And the elder brother was there at home

the whole time

and he was jealous,

which is a picture of the Pharisees.

They were jealous.

Tim: So you have this prodigal son.

And we could say there really
wasn't much time to do anything.

The father ran out and
threw his arms around him

and killed the fatted calf.

But the reality is the same thing

was demonstrated in the prodigal son

that we see demonstrated
in the thief on the cross.

What was that?

There's suddenly a change in the thinking.

A person comes to himself.

A person reconsiders.

A person suddenly recognizes:

I'm not in a good place

and there's a turning towards home.

What you have is this guy

hanging on the cross,

he turns to Christ.

His hope is there.

Well, okay, we're going to move on

to the next one.