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The thief understood life was temporal – his death was imminent (James 4:14).
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His temporal life and condemnation drew him to fear God – the Fear of God is not being afraid of God, but a fearful respect knowing that God alone eternally punishes sin in Hell or grants eternal mercy (Luke 12:5; Romans 6:23a; Revelation 21:8).
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The Fear of God brought him to see his sinfulness before God, a necessity for repentance – godly sorrow over sin, brought on by Holy Spirit conviction, worketh repentance to salvation (Romans 7:13; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11).
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He understood the power to save belonged to Jesus – this is the point of his repentance toward God and turning to Jesus as his only hope (Acts 20:21). Repentance does not save but is the key ingredient that drives our faith from trusting our filthy righteousness to trusting God’s perfect righteousness, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:16).
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By faith he called on Jesus to save him – and he was granted eternal life (Romans 10:9-13).
What a glorious reply to this sinner’s plea for salvation, “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Notice, “thou” was a nameless, condemned, helpless thief – helpless but not hopeless! Notice also, “thou” is singular because salvation is personal, it is not “us” as was the other thief’s prayer.
This is the simplicity of salvation’s process – realizing you must pay for your sins in Hell for eternity, but that Jesus already paid for your sins on the cross. Then turning to God with godly sorrow, repentance over your sins, and pleading for salvation by putting your faith in Jesus to pay your eternal sin debt (Romans 3:22; 10:13).
If you have not called upon the Lord to save you, are you willing to turn from trusting your own righteousness and put your faith in Jesus’ Blood and His righteousness to save you? (Romans 3:22-26; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
