The question has been raised, “Why can’t a person be saved today like the thief on the cross in Luke 23:39-43? The person who raised such a question usually continues by saying, “after all the thief was saved without being baptized.”
The Bible answer to this question is found by “ . . . rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). Jesus lived under the Old Testament Law. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law . . .” When Jesus died on the cross He removed the Old Testament Law. Paul says, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. . .” (Colossians 2:14). In Hebrews 9:15-17 the writer says, “And for this cause He is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
While he was on earth before his death, Jesus granted forgiveness under various circumstances (Luke 7:48; Mark 2:5; etc.). Since His death, his will (The New Testament) is “in force” and all must obey the Gospel plan of salvation in order to become a child of God and be saved (Hebrews 9:16,17; Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:26,27; Hebrews 5:9).
The thief on the cross was not subject to the New Testament Gospel plan of salvation. Today, you and I are under the New Testament of Christ. Have you obeyed the truth? Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
Ken Tyler
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