If God does not make exceptions, and if He is totally righteous He cannot. The thief on the cross, did not say he was sorry, did not go to church, was not baptized, and did no good deeds, the bible records no penance, and if it was necessary for him to be saved, the bible would have recorded the penance. The bible says that the thief on the cross simply believed in his dying moments on the cross and said "Remember me." And Jesus said "This day you will be with me in paradise." Like it or lump it----"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." Faith alone. We really are saved by grace (def. undeserved favor.) If grace is grace, it is undeserved, and you cannot earn it or deserve it. God does it for you, not you doing it for God, Agree? If you don't then show me how God could make an exception, and still be absolutely righteous.
2006-12-09 22:32:25 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Excellent question! No God does NOT make exceptions. We are forgiven on Faith and Grace alone. We cannot EARN it (nor do we deserve it), we can only accept it. For in believing we shall join our Lord and only by accepting Christ as our Savior will that happen. Simply saying "help me Lord" is all one has to do to receive His grace...
2006-12-10 18:13:48 · answer #1 · answered by singlesolitaire1957 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Another question about the thief on the cross.
Jesus had not died for our sins yet. Just as Jesus had healed, delivered, and resurrected people during his life on earth, he bestowed grace on the thief. The thief we must assume must have believed that he was the Savior to even say 'Remember me."
We live now in the time of grace. But it isn't just about faith alone. "Faith without works is dead" We must prove that we have faith.
"Salvation is found in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven give to me by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12-13.
If we must be saved under Jesus name (go back up a little to the 10th verse) " then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Acts 4:10-11
So if you must be saved under the name of Jesus, wouldn't you have to follow Acts 2:38? What about John 3?
God does not make exceptions to His rules.
Period!
2006-12-09 22:46:27 · answer #2 · answered by T Tom T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe I just answered an identical question, but yes, nothing we can do -- including acceptance, or even repentance -- earns us our salvation. To me this was a beautiful example of God's act of giving faith and man's simply receiving it, by way of the lack of time available for any formalities. When it comes right down to it, salvation by grace through faith FIRST, anything after that is merely our own response to what God has already done.
2006-12-10 10:22:12 · answer #3 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe you have to repent to be truly saved. After temptation in the wilderness, Jesus began His public ministry and preached to repent.
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say,"Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."
Faith is a definite must for salvation, but I believe repentance is necessary. In Acts 16:31, when the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved they answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ..." In vs. 33, he takes them home, feeds them and washes their wounds, indicating repentance.
You are right that faith is the only condition for salvation, but there can be no underlying motive, only love and faith.
2006-12-09 23:04:21 · answer #4 · answered by lost and found 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The be conscious God comes from the be conscious good, the be conscious devil comes from the be conscious evil, the serpent is declared to be devil, the devil, yet all the serpent did replaced into tell the fact, the so spoke of as god of the ot took glory for killing tens of millions so which replaced into good and which replaced into evil? besides, you would be unable to make experience of non-experience, we even accuse god of the atrocity of torturing human beings in hellfire for no longer getting what it needs from our loose will, i'm particular the God knows have been nevertheless a primitive race, and knows you recognize only one step up from the apes. The be conscious sin skill to omit the mark. to three God could be an exception to sin, yet to many, we bow right down to no such needy god, we even deny there is something divine in any respect, because of the fact the full concept is this type of bum trip.
2016-10-05 03:06:44 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thief also said "Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
The thief was sorry for his sins and Jesus Christ knew this. The thief believed in Jesus and Jesus forgave him.
2006-12-09 22:47:31 · answer #6 · answered by tracy211968 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anything God does is righteous and true, because God is God.
And God is definitely not bound by the laws he makes for us.
The only reason the grace of salvation remains a gift, is because no one can force God to save them.
And the only reason faith is required for salvation is because God will not force anyone to accept him.
2006-12-09 23:16:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who are you to judge God? Your brain isn't intelligent enough to understand how this thing works. We are all sinners. If someone did something wrong and he's sorry and he doesn't repeat what he did God is willing to forgive him. Why? Because God isn't just right but also kind and loving. If you were a father and your son would've done something wrong and if he comes to you saying that he's sorry wouldn't you forgive him? You'd probably do that because you love him and you want the best for him. God says "Return to me, and I will return to YOU".
2006-12-09 22:49:38 · answer #8 · answered by Alex 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many try to justify their claims with the statement of Jesus to the thief on the cross, when the thief said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom,” and Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42–43.) Jesus and the thief went to paradise. There are those who teach that paradise and heaven are one and the same place, but this is not according to the teachings of the holy scriptures.
After mortal death the spirit goes to paradise and remains there until the appointed time for its resurrection into immortality and eternal life.
Heaven, which is the kingdom of God, is where those who have been obedient to God’s plan of life and salvation go after judgment and the resurrection.
The spirit of Jesus, after his death, went to paradise and not to the kingdom of heaven. It was not until after his resurrection that he mentioned returning to the kingdom of heaven. You will recall his words to Mary as she stood by the sepulcher weeping: “Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17.) His spirit had been to paradise, but he had not yet ascended to his Father in heaven.
Christ did not tell the thief "You will go to Heaven" he just told him he would see him in Paradise, or the 'waiting room'. There the thief may have accepted the gospel, I we do not know.
2006-12-09 22:51:47 · answer #9 · answered by twikfat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because He is God, and the theif on the cross did know Him before He died
2006-12-09 22:35:34 · answer #10 · answered by ♥ gina ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋