The thief´s have been tried, convicted, sentenced to being crucified along with Jesus Christ.

Jesus speaks a word of pardon to the thief on the cross who is fully aware of his sin.

There are things we don´t know about the thief.
like what was his crime.
His age.
We only know he was a thief.

What we do know according to scripture that God was working in his heart.
Thats when God usually has our attention is when we are at our lowest.

We see in Luke 23:40 that he becomes reverent toward God, when he says to the other thief, Doest not thou fear God.
He sees himself as being guilty as said in Luke 23:41 For we receive the due reward of our deeds.

What this man experienced was what all of us experience when we come to Christ.

We recognize God for who He is    Holy
We recognize us for what we ALL are Sinners. It´s hard to admit WE are wrong.

When we as sinners cry out to God, We can be assured that our sins are forgiven and we have the promise of eternal life In Paradise

I Love this special Promise: When Jesus says in Luke 23:43 "Thou shalt be with Me you will be with me in Paradise."
He didn´t simply say you are welcome in My Kingdom.  He said you will be with me personally!
When the thief cries out to Jesus he said, "Lord remember me." this man never saw a miracle, he never heard a sermon, but he knew deep in his soul that Jesus is Lord!

A prayer of Faith! when the thief says in Luke 23:42 "remember me," he was expecting something believing that Jesus would do it.

He didn´t say!   If you happen to be who I think you are, maybe you could get me in somehow.
He knew by Faith, that Jesus was God!
I didn´t see Jesus doing miracles, hear any of His sermons, His Death, Resurrection, but by Faith I believe.

Let me say something about Paradise!
Paradise is our final destination, Heaven when we die and we will be with Jesus.

We can be assured that eternity is but one heart beat away!

Our soul does not go to sleep or go into some unconscious state, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."
Our salvation does not depend on any works we can do or any religious acts to carryout.
This thief didn´t have time to do anything. Ephesians 2:8-9
There is another interesting fact about this particular event that maybe overlooked sometimes!   Jesus was dying and He was in unbelievable pain and suffering, but yet He still was able to win one more soul!

We have so many petty excuses for not reaching others for Christ.

What excuses do you use?
Do you have the assurance of Paradise, like the thief?
Which thief are you?
After reading this and God has shown you which thief you are? Please read this to learn more about this assurance of being in  Paradise

























Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren´t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don´t you fear God," he said, since you are under the same sentence?
41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
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Luke 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don´t you fear God," he said, since you are under the same sentence?
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Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.
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Luke 23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
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Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
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Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
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Last updated on September 15, 2005