Thief on the Cross

There is a debate as to whether the thief that was on the cross next to Yeshua is in heaven.  Yeshua made a simple statement in the Gospels that some dismiss.  Yeshua said to the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43:

⁴³And Yeshua said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Yeshua simply stated that the thief would be in paradise with Him.  However, there are still some that believe that one cannot be positive that the thief went to heaven.  Who are we to believe, these people or the sinless Messiah?  Because if Yeshua is not sinless, then Yeshua does neither of us any good.  Sinless means Yeshua did not lie or even mislead us, John 12:49-50.

⁴⁹For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. ⁵⁰And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

If Yeshua made a statement, it was the Father who said it to Him.  Personally, I believe Yeshua.  Who do you believe?

There are plenty of believers that will tell you that the thief did not go to heaven.  There are basically two reasons for this.  First, there are those that believe the thief had to have been water baptized.  For those that believe this, they may be confused on what the requirement is for salvation, John 3:16.

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It is believe on Him, not get water baptized.  Water baptism is a work that is done, salvation is of grace, Romans 11:6.

⁶And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

A lack of baptism does not prevent anyone from having eternal life.

The second reason has to do with the fact that Yeshua did not go to heaven until three days later.  Possibly, the reason why people have a problem here is because many assume that a day is 24 hours.  Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:8:

⁸But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Day could have be a 1000 years.  Day also refers to a period of time.  Why do believers limit the Bible to their understanding.  The following page will investigate beyond man’s opinion.

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