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FAQ # 38
QUESTION 38 : How is it the thief on the cross was saved without being born again?
For those of us who are not familiar with the text: Jesus was hanged between two criminals at Calvary. One of the offenders at the spur-of-the-moment believed on Jesus and asked that he be remembered in the next life.
Jesus replied, “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 28:38-43). He wasn’t baptized in water or the Holy Spirit, nor did he have the chance to.
“Probably the same thing can happen for me,” one might say.
However, before the resurrection of Jesus Christ, exists another *dispensation. A dispensation is a set period of time that God deals in a set manner towards the earth and its inhabitants. There was a dispensation where it was okay for a brother to marry his sister. Remember God is sovereign.
Paul gives us a better idea with this quotation, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30).
Before Christ’s resurrection (another dispensation), the way to God for the orthodox Jews was through the law. Our present dispensation of God’s grace is through Jesus Christ, which actually *begun on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). The thief on the cross was before our dispensation, so he couldn’t have become born again. Note that the twelve disciples who worked miracles (Matt. 10:8) with Jesus were not yet saved, because of the same dispensation they were in.
“What do you mean they weren’t saved,” you might ask?.
Jesus said unto Peter, “when thou are converted strengthen the brethren” (Luke 22:32). In other words, Peter when you are saved preach and teach the word of life. The plan of salvation was not in effect until the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For instance, one’s earthly parents have to die before the inheritance can be claimed. Likewise, the born again plan couldn’t apply to the thief on the cross because Christ was still alive and he hadn’t risen from the dead.
Look at this closely, Jesus Christ is the testator of the New Testament or new will. For a will or testament to take effect the testator must die. The book of Hebrew 9:16-17 states this, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
In other words, one could not claim salvation if Christ had not died, worse off, if he had not risen (1 Cor 15:17).
It was impossible for anyone to be born again at the cross, for the born again plan was not yet completed. Jesus had not died, been buried, and raised again. God has always had a plan of salvation for each dispensation of time.
In Noah’s day, the only way out was to get into the ark. Since Moses’ day, the only plan was the law, by faith. Today the only way to be saved is to be born again. Try using the law today for salvation or pull the ‘thief on the cross’ stunt and you’ll only end up on the opposite side of paradise.
Answer
Notes: 1. * denotes, A dispensation can
be defined as God’s way of dealing with the inhabitants of the earth for
a specific time; whether 1000, 2000, 400 or 40 years or even a year.
A dispensation has to be brought in by a never-before-event. The death,
burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ sealed the coming of the new dispensation.
That grace was first poured out on the day of Pentecost. Why?
The day of Pentecost was the same exact day or anniversary of the giving
of the ten Commandments by the hand of Moses. It was written on two tablets
of stone then. However, God said through the prophet Ezekiel (36:27),
there is coming a time when “I will put my spirit in you and cause you
to walk in my statues.” So, in essence, the law is now written on our
hearts.
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