Quote:
Originally Posted by renee819
That is why the “thief on the cross” would meet Jesus in Paradise. He repented, under the Law.
|
The thief on the cross was saved because he was justified by faith, the same way Abraham had been saved (
Genesis 15:6) and the same way we are saved (
Romans 4:22-5:2,
Galatians 2:16). Repentance under the law didn't save, he would have still been required to have been circumcised and make a sin offering if he was saved under the law (but even that would be missing the fact that nothing someone did under the law saved them-not circumcision, not sacrifice, not tithing, nada--only faith could save, everything else was to be the result of that saving faith). The standard oneness response to the thief on the cross, straight out of David Bernard's book the New Birth page 143 "even the repentant thief on the cross was saved under the old covenant" seems to make a good point but simply doesn't stand up to consistent logic. Salvation has always been by grace through faith. This does not and has never meant that that saving faith is alone or refuses to obey. As Martin Luther said, "We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone." The thief on the cross would be an exception in that he did not get a chance to demonstrate his faith by his works, but He is an example of how God can sovereignly justify the sinner based on his faith and apart from any righteous works or obedience whatsoever.