A Sinner's Miraculous Salvation

May 12th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Luke 23:42-43 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And [Jesus] said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

It is known from all the Gospels that two other men, condemned criminals, were crucified alongside Jesus, one on His left side and one on His right (Matt. 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:32; John 19:18). In the Synoptics, these men, perhaps associated with Barabbas’ insurrection, were also taking part in hurling abuse at Jesus as they hung on their respective crosses. Yet over the course of three or so hours, one of the criminals, according to Luke’s account, began to soften. As one of the criminals was hurling abuse at Jesus, taunting Him as the Christ to save both Himself and them, the other criminal rebuked his partner in crime, essentially telling him to shut his blasphemous mouth. Apparently having observed Jesus’ upstanding demeanor, and no doubt having heard Jesus pray for the forgiveness of those mocking Him, this unnamed criminal experienced a change of heart, replacing his mockery of Jesus with love and admiration.

The criminal, realizing that his own crucifixion was in keeping with his evil deeds, asked his cohort in crime, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds” (v. 40-41a). This question reveals the conscience of a man who not only believed there is a God but that God is righteous and just, essentially saying, “We’re suffering this fate because we broke God’s law.” He thus added with regard to Jesus, “But this man has done nothing wrong” (v. 41b). How did he know that? Did he know Jesus as the Christ prior to his crucifixion and thus know Jesus was innocent of the crimes leveled against Him? Or, did he come to realize that Jesus was the Christ while they suffered together on their respective crosses? Either way, the criminal, at the end of his brief life, knew his sins, recognized his Savior, and sought forgiveness.

The man then turned to Jesus and “was saying, ‘Remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (v. 42). Now since “was saying” is an imperfect active verb that speaks of ongoing action in the past, the man didn’t just ask Jesus to remember him once; he “was saying” it over and over! The crucified criminal now knew that Jesus was both King and Christ and that He was absolutely going to enter His kingdom after death. Asking Jesus to never forget him, the repentant criminal now wanted to be with Jesus, having forsaken his life of crime and sin. Hence, “remember me…” This is a clear statement of faith, revealing the repentant heart of a dying man.

As beautiful as the criminal’s repentant heart is, nothing is more beautiful than the grace of God in the midst of His own suffering as He guarantees the salvation of the repentant criminal! Jesus’ immediate response to the man’s plea was, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” First, note the word “truly” (Gr. amēn), for the words that follow from Jesus’ mouth will be absolute truth. Second, note the place where Jesus says the repentant criminal will be: Paradise. This Greek term means “garden,” used three times in the NT. In 2 Corinthians 12:4 it refers to the place where God Himself dwells in unapproachable light (cf. 1 Tim. 6:16). In Revelation 2:7 it refers to the restoration of Eden prophesied in Isaiah 51:3 and Ezekiel 36:35. Luke uses it here to refer to the residence of the righteous dead who dwell with God after death. Third, note that the man would be “with” Jesus on that day in Paradise!

Food For Thought
How can a hardened criminal be saved by Jesus, a person who spent his life robbing and shedding the innocent blood of others? Answer: By God’s grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. He had nothing to give—no alms, no prayers, no good deeds, no baptism, no nothing. Just faith. And what was true for that criminal on the cross next to Jesus is still true for everyone who draws a breath today. No one can sin so horribly that they can’t reach out in faith to Jesus Christ and find forgiveness along with the guarantee of eternal life with Him in Paradise beginning on the very day they die. No purgatory, no more prayers needed; just faith in Jesus and the guarantee of eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is so well-illustrated in the thief on the cross! God’s grace is a free gift, demanding no works, just repentance and faith.