A Thief and a Cross

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Sermon Title: A Thief and a Cross

Text: Luke 23:39–43 | 2 Peter 3:10 (KJV)

Introduction: Which Thief Are You Watching?

It’s a scene we’ve all read before — three crosses on a hill. Three condemned men. Three very different responses to death.

Two criminals — one on the left, one on the right — and Jesus in the middle. One man mocks Jesus. The other turns to Him and pleads, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."

Then Jesus says in Luke 23:43: "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

That statement has given comfort to many… but it’s also been twisted by many. Some use it as a reason to reject baptism. They say: "The thief wasn’t baptized, and he was saved — so why do I need to be baptized?"

But let me lovingly challenge you today: We’re too focused on the wrong thief.

Yes, that thief died beside Jesus. But there’s another thief the Bible talks about — the One who is coming like a thief in the night. And He’s the One we must prepare for.

That thief… is Jesus Himself, returning in judgment. Let’s examine what the Bible really says about both thieves — and what it means for your salvation.

Part 1: The Thief Beside Jesus – A True Account, But Not Our Pattern

Luke 23:39–43 (KJV)

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

This is a beautiful picture of grace. But it is not a pattern for salvation today.

Illustration: Courtroom Mercy vs. The Law

Imagine you're in a courtroom. A man is guilty. The evidence is overwhelming. But just before sentencing, the judge steps down and says, “I’ll take the punishment for him.”

Now imagine someone in the gallery stands up and says, “Great! That means I don’t ever have to follow the law again!”

That would be foolish. The grace extended in a specific moment doesn’t become the standard for everyone else.

The thief received mercy — not a new plan of salvation.

Common Argument: "The thief wasn’t baptized, so I don’t need to be."

Let’s address this carefully. Some people are looking for truth. Others are looking for loopholes. But either way, truth doesn’t change.

Here’s why the thief is not your example:

A. The thief lived and died under the Old Covenant

Hebrews 9:16–17 (KJV)

“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.”

Jesus' new covenant had not yet started. The church had not been established. The Great Commission hadn’t been given. You and I live on this side of the cross — not that one.

B. Jesus had authority to forgive directly

Matthew 9:6 (KJV)

“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins…”

More examples of Jesus forgiving on the spot:

Luke 7:48–50 – He told the woman who washed His feet:

“Thy sins are forgiven… Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

John 8:10–11 – He said to the woman caught in adultery:

“Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Jesus could forgive directly while on earth. But today, He speaks through His gospel.

C. Salvation today comes through the gospel

Romans 1:16 (KJV)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation…”

You cannot reject the gospel and claim the thief as your ticket to heaven. The gospel now commands obedience.

Part 2: Exceptions Are Not Examples

Let me give you a real-world example.

Illustration: 9/11 Firefighters and Rescue Plans

On 9/11, firefighters broke every rule to save people from the collapsing towers. That was grace. That was emergency response.

But now? We have fire codes. Emergency protocols. Building evacuation plans. If someone ignores the plan and says, “Well, the 9/11 rescue didn’t follow it,” they’d be wrong — because the plan came after the crisis.

The thief was saved before the gospel. But now — we have the plan. The church has been established. The blood has been shed. The gospel has been preached.

Matthew 28:19–20 (KJV)

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them...”

Acts 2:38 (KJV)

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”

Mark 16:16 (KJV)

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…”

1 Peter 3:21 (KJV)

“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…”

Part 3: But There’s Another Thief Coming

2 Peter 3:10 (KJV)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…”

Let me pause here: when the Bible says Jesus comes “as a thief,” it does not mean He is a thief. This is a simile — a figure of speech. It means He will come suddenly, unexpectedly, and without warning.

Illustration: A House Burglar at Night

If a thief broke into your house while you were asleep, it would catch you off guard. That’s how Jesus is coming — not to steal, but to collect His people and bring judgment.

Matthew 24:43 (KJV)

“If the goodman of the house had known... he would have watched...”

Part 4: How to Be Ready for the Thief in the Night

The answer is not to point to the thief beside Jesus.

It’s to obey the One who died in the middle.

Luke 9:23 (KJV)

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Romans 6:3–4 (KJV)

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?... even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Part 5: The Plan of Salvation

Before we walk through what the Bible says about salvation, let’s acknowledge something important:

There are many different teachings today about baptism. Some say it’s optional. Others say it’s just a symbol. Some teach it should be done after salvation as a public declaration. Some sprinkle. Some pour. Some wait until a certain age.

Let’s compare that to what the Bible teaches:

Some denominations say baptism is just an outward sign of an inward grace — not necessary for salvation.

But the Bible says in 1 Peter 3:21 – “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…”

Some say you can be saved by faith alone without being baptized.

But the Bible says in Mark 16:16 – “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…”

Some say baptism is something you do after you’re already saved.

But the Bible says in Acts 22:16 – “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Some teach that infants should be baptized to remove original sin.

But the Bible shows baptism always follows personal belief and repentance (see Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16) — something infants are not capable of.

The confusion is real. But God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). He gave us a clear pattern in His word. Our job is not to revise it, but to obey it.

Here is what the Bible says — not tradition, not opinion:

Hear the Word – Romans 10:17 – “Faith cometh by hearing…”

Believe – Mark 16:16 – “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…”

Repent – Luke 13:3 – “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Confess – Matthew 10:32–33 – “Whosoever shall confess me before men…”

Be Baptized – Acts 22:16 – “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins…” Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”