The Truth in Print Vol.
31, Issue 10, Nov. 2025
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
“Why Can’t I be Saved
like the Thief on the Cross?”
Some
years back I had this question put to me in a serious conversation concerning a
man’s eternal salvation. He had called and asked if I would meet with him and
explain to him why a good friend of his did not consider him to be saved and
thus be a Christian.
His Example Given Of Conversion To Be Applied Today.
Luk
23:39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying,
"If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."
Luk
23:40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not
even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
Luk
23:41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds;
but this Man has done nothing wrong."
Luk
23:42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into
Your kingdom."
Luk
23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you
will be with Me in Paradise."
His
point was the one who would be in Paradise that day with Jesus had faith that
He is the Lord. And that faith saved him, he said.
Upon
explaining Jesus’ blood is the blood of the New Testament shed for many for the
remission of sins (Matt. 26:28) along with the necessity of obeying the terms
of the New Covenant, while understanding that the Old Testament was taken out
of the way having been nailed to the cross (Col 2:14), he replied.
He
replied that Jesus forgave the thief’s sins while being offered and if
He forgave the man’s sins while being offered, and there was some amount
His blood already “shed” then He will do
the same today for him without him being baptized.
Here Is The Scriptural Answer To This.
Christ
as the offering for Sin for all time required His death. If it just required
“some blood” then there was no need to die (!).
Heb
9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the
greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this
creation.
Heb
9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He
entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal
redemption.
Heb
9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer,
sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
Heb
9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God?
Heb
9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by
means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first
covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal
inheritance.
Heb
9:16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the
death of the testator.
Heb
9:17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no
power at all while the testator lives.
He Had To Die For Us To Be Forgiven.
Rom
5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for
the ungodly.
Rom
5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good
man someone would even dare to die.
Rom
5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom
5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be
saved from wrath through Him.
Rom
5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the
death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His
life.
Rom
5:11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Reconciliation To God Came Through His Death.
Col
1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the
preeminence.
Col
1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should
dwell,
Col
1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His
cross.
Col
1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
Col
1:22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy,
and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—
Col
1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are
not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached
to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Human Reasoning Rejects Jesus’ Death As Necessary.
It Also Rejects That He Has All Authority In Heaven
And On Earth.
Mat
28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has
been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Mat
28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat
28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
It Rejects What His Authority (Himself Being God)
Stated In The Great Commission.
Mar
16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature.
Mar
16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not
believe will be condemned.
If
so called scholars say one does not have to be baptized they reject His
authority!
On
Pentecost Peter preached Jesus’ death and resurrection to His heavenly throne
as promised in the scriptures being the descendant of David (Acts 2.23, 30-33).
What
Peter preached he received from the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33). By the Holy Spirit
(God) Peter preached the Jews crucified Christ and put Him to death—He is Lord
and Christ (Acts 2:23, 36).
Peter
writing by the Holy Spirit (God) says Christ’s suffering for sin was unto death
(I Pet. 3:18)—and goes on to say baptism saves us (I Pet. 3:21).
The
individual’s friend above knew he wasn’t saved and that was a primary concern
(!!). Do you have such a concerned friend seeking your salvation?
The Valley Church of
Christ
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services –
Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening –
7:00 pm
To learn more call,
visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com