Luke 23:39-43 "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: 'Aren't you the Christ? 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 are deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'
I can't imagine what it must have been like to be the believing criminal. To hear the Lord speak such words when you know you are in your final hours must have been amazing! His hope was in nothing until that point. I can imagine the self-condemning thought process for someone like him that must have gone on. And yet, in one way I do know what he was feeling. Today and tomorrow are not guaranteed. I had NO hope until I trusted in the Lord and He changed my life.
Another thing I really like about this passage is that it shows the truth about how one is saved and goes to heaven.The man simply had to believe and trust that Jesus was who he said he was and could do what he said he could do. And now he gets to rejoice in heaven! How AWESOME!
John 14:6 "Jesus answered, ' I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' "
Some churches have taught that you must baptize your child (along with other requirements) if that child is going to get into heaven. Many people struggle with it. This passage in Luke clearly negates that thought. The believing criminal never got baptized. But look what Jesus said to him.
We are to believe and THEN be baptized. Baptism is only an outward sign of what God has done on the inside. It's you speaking out and saying to others that you are going to live your life for the Lord because He has changed you and made you new. Water can't save you. Being washed by the Holy Spirit and saved by the blood can.
