How easy is this?

[brooks1]

How easy was it for the thief who was crucified along with Jesus Christ, to be saved and find a place in heaven when he died?

Did he attend a church? Did he give money to the church? Did he speak in tongues? Did he belong to numerous charitable groups? Did he impress God with his goodness? Did he never sin or do wrong? Did he hold a position of leadership? Was he rich? Was he respected? Did he serve on the mission fields? Did he have a ministry? Did he have a miraculous gift? Was he a genius? Was he from a high class family? Was he honest? Did he lead an exemplary life? Did he punish himself and flog himself with whips? Did he convert others to Christianity? Was he special in some way? Was he perfect? Did he go to confession? Did he strap a bomb to himself and kill unbelievers to impress his god? Did he meditate day and night to find spiritual enlightenment? Did he chant a mantra, become one with the universe through mysticism and crystals? Do yoga? Become a member of a church? Was he a celebrity? Did he pray to statues, animals, mountains, the land or ancestors? Did he pray to the sun, the moon or other celestial bodies? Did he defeat all his addictions, problems, shortcomings, fears and weaknesses? Did he pray to allah, mohammad, the deli lama, buddha, mary or the pope?

NO NO NO!!!


All he did to be saved and given eternal life in heaven was to decide he believed in Jesus. How did he do that?



As he and Jesus were dying along side each other he said to Jesus “remember me in your kingdom”. By saying that, he acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God and inferred that he believed Jesus. Jesus immediately said to him “this day you will be with me in paradise”.

That’s all anyone has to do to be saved, just believe in Jesus Christ. Just believe in Him as a child believes in their parents, as a player believes in their coach, as a loving wife believes in her husband, as a student believes in their teacher. Not just believe that Jesus Christ existed, but actually believe in Him and everything He said and stood for. How easy is that?



HOW EASY IS THAT !!!



(Luke 23:43)

(Acts 16:30-31)

(Romans 10:13)

(Matthew 10:32)

Keygar www.rapturenotes.com

[Robbinson]

How easy was it for the thief who was crucified along with Jesus Christ, to be saved and find a place in heaven when he died?

Did he attend a church? Did he give money to the church? Did he speak in tongues? Did he belong to numerous charitable groups? Did he impress God with his goodness? Did he never sin or do wrong? Did he hold a position of leadership? Was he rich? Was he respected? Did he serve on the mission fields? Did he have a ministry? Did he have a miraculous gift? Was he a genius? Was he from a high class family? Was he honest? Did he lead an exemplary life? Did he punish himself and flog himself with whips? Did he convert others to Christianity? Was he special in some way? Was he perfect? Did he go to confession? Did he strap a bomb to himself and kill unbelievers to impress his god? Did he meditate day and night to find spiritual enlightenment? Did he chant a mantra, become one with the universe through mysticism and crystals? Do yoga? Become a member of a church? Was he a celebrity? Did he pray to statues, animals, mountains, the land or ancestors? Did he pray to the sun, the moon or other celestial bodies? Did he defeat all his addictions, problems, shortcomings, fears and weaknesses? Did he pray to allah, mohammad, the deli lama, buddha, mary or the pope?

NO NO NO!!!


All he did to be saved and given eternal life in heaven was to decide he believed in Jesus. How did he do that?



As he and Jesus were dying along side each other he said to Jesus “remember me in your kingdom”. By saying that, he acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God and inferred that he believed Jesus. Jesus immediately said to him “this day you will be with me in paradise”.

That’s all anyone has to do to be saved, just believe in Jesus Christ. Just believe in Him as a child believes in their parents, as a player believes in their coach, as a loving wife believes in her husband, as a student believes in their teacher. Not just believe that Jesus Christ existed, but actually believe in Him and everything He said and stood for. How easy is that?



HOW EASY IS THAT !!!



(Luke 23:43)

(Acts 16:30-31)

(Romans 10:13)

(Matthew 10:32)

Keygar www.rapturenotes.com

Yes - you are correct, in a sense. However, had the thief on the cross not immediately died, as a true believer in Christ and Lord and Saviour, he would have become a new creature in Christ and had he continued to live on earth, he would have had an urge to grow in sanctification through living as Christ did, in reading the scripture and in enjoying fellowship with other believers. I don't believe the image you depict is intended to suggest that a "true believer" will be content only in his/her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and will live life without any evidence of that faith. James tells us that faith without works is dead - not that salvation comes from works, it comes from faith alone, but works (and our walk in progressive sanctification) is evidence of our faith.

But I agree with you 100% that it all begins with and turns, entirely on, our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Regards

[amy_elisabeth]

We just have to be careful about "just believing" because the demons believe and tremble. They even worship Jesus. The belief a Christian includes trust, gratitude, repentance.

I bring it up because you said, "Not just believe that Jesus Christ existed, but actually believe in Him and everything He said and stood for. How easy is that?"

It's pretty easy... and the demons do it too.

John 8 talks about those who believed in Jesus and then Jesus said they were still of their father, the devil. We need to clarify "believing." :)

[HeIsEnough]

HOW EASY IS THAT !!!


So easy, a sinner can do it.

As he and Jesus were dying along side each other he said to Jesus “remember me in your kingdom”. By saying that, he acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God and inferred that he believed Jesus. Jesus immediately said to him “this day you will be with me in paradise”.

Yes, God looks in that place no one else can see, and sees it is true....the rest is eternity.

[christfollower]

Yes - you are correct, in a sense. However, had the thief on the cross not immediately died, as a true believer in Christ and Lord and Saviour, he would have become a new creature in Christ and had he continued to live on earth, he would have had an urge to grow in sanctification through living as Christ did, in reading the scripture and in enjoying fellowship with other believers.

I agree Robbinson! I think a lot of times we look at the thief on the cross and over-simplify the Gospel message. Yes, first and foremost we must believe... but the Gospel says a whole lot more than that. We are to repent and turn away from sin. We live a fruitful life. Etc, etc... Yes, God in certain circumstances steps in and intervenes. Yes God can do what He wants. Yes God has spared all of us from what we truely deserve as sinners, but that doesn't mean that we can go along, freely sinning just because we have "faith in Christ". God gave us the FREE gift of His Son, and His Son gave His life for us... We all have the capability to get to Heaven because of this... but the Father isn't going to just let anyone in who "knows His name." Scripture tells us that some will call, "Lord, Lord" but they do not TRUELY know Him, therefore they will not make it to Heaven. Again, I do believe that the thief is enjoying Heaven with all the angels and saints, but we can't look at his situation and model our walk with Christ after his. If that was the case, we could live our lives as loose as we wanted until we were on our death beds. Do you think this is what Jesus wants? I sure hope not!!