A
minister was talking to a man who professed conversion. “Have you unite with a
church?” he asked him. “No, the dying thief never united with a church and he
went to heaven,” was the answer. “Have you ever sat at the Lord’s table?” “No,
the dying thief never did and he was accepted.” “have you been baptized?” “No,
the dying thief was never baptized and he went to heaven.” “Have you given to
missions?” “No, the dying thief did not and he was not judged for it.” “Well,
my friend, the difference between you two seems to be that he was a dying thief
and you are a living thief.” Well said. The characterization is perfect for the
man James uses as an illustration. (Spiros Zodhiates, The Labor of Love: An
Exposition of James 2:14-4:12 [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1960], 20)
For more on the thief on the cross, see:
"Does the Thief on the Cross Refute Baptismal Regeneration?" in By Water and of the Spirit: The Biblical Evidence for Baptismal Regeneration, pp. 18-23 (for those who want a PDF for free, email me at ScripturalMormonismATgmailDOTcom)
