Thief on the Cross

The Word of God Himself (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God).

 

And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom. (Luke 23:42)

The penitent thief’s prayer reflected his belief that the soul lives on after death; that Christ had a right to rule over a kingdom of the souls of men; and that He would soon enter that kingdom despite His impending death. His request to be remembered was a plea for mercy, which also reveals that the thief understood he had no hope but divine grace, and that the dispensing of that grace lay in Jesus’ power. All of this demonstrates true faith on the part of the dying thief, and Christ graciously affirmed the man’s salvation. -- John MacArthur

 

If we understand that he died before Christ rose again, than the thief died under the old covenant. Christ had the power to forgive sins, so it seems that He did so.

 

The thief was hanging right beside the WORD...

One rejected Christ and one accepted Him. (Same as the world today...)

"There is nothing new under the sun."

 

Actually I have heard from one organisation that there were Five thieves, I think that my source was the Grail Church.

 

Christ had been performing miracles throughout the region for the past three years. Just a few days before the crucifixion he triumphantly entered Jerusalem. Of course the thief knew about Jesus and his ministry. Who knows he may have been in a croud of people who heard him preach at one time.

Rob

 

Here is the scripture you were using:
Rom 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Salvation does not come by preaching, Salvation comes thru the Holy Spirit. How much more of the Holy Spirit do we need than Jesus Christ in the flesh. The forgiven thief just responded to what he knew in his heart and he was recieved by God.

 

The Bible actually is silent concerning how many people were crucified besides Christ. If we understand history and such, there were more than likely tens, if not hundreds, crucified at the same time. The Bible speaks merely of two that were beside him.