The thief on the cross would have been subject to the OT mandates due to the fact that Jesus' sacrificial work was not complete until His resurrection. The gospel of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection is what makes the NT rebirth experience available to humanity.
2 Timothy 1:9 (CSBBible)
9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
NICE TRY, so you think we are better than O.T. Believers, but JESUS SAID "FOLLOW ME". So everyone His Water Baptism would be an example to follow.
So everyone has a reason to Follow HIM into the waters of baptism, AFTER THEY ARE BAPTIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, immersing them into the spiritual body of CHRIST.
Psalm 119:33-34 (HCSB)
33 Teach me, LORD, the meaning of Your statutes, and I will always keep them.
34 Help me understand Your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.
Isaiah 51:1 (NKJV)
1 "Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD:
. . .
Psalm 51:11 (ESV)
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Mark 10:21 (NKJV)
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him,
"One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
24 Then Jesus told his disciples,
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Luke 9:23 (ESV)
23 And he said to all,
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
John 1:11-13 (ESV)
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but
of God.
DO HE NOT THINK O.T. Saints that did receive HIM, should be considered the same as those of the N.T. Saints that receive HIM?
John 10:16 (NASB)
16
"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold [the O.T. Assembly]; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. [at the Rapture]
The people He is talking are the last O.T. SAINTS. HE CALLS THEM SHEEP, the same as He calls us SHEEP. GUESS WHAT ELSE ? ? ?
I know you can look this up, but the WORD CHURCH was NEVER used in the Bible when it was originally published. HE ALSO CALLED US THE ASSEMBLY.
Matthew 16:18 (YLT)
18
`And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly [the N.T. Fold], and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it; [the O.T. Assembly is HIS first Fold]
Acts 10:34-36 (KJV)
34 Then Peter opened
his mouth, and said, Of a truth
I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness,
is accepted with him.
36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of
all
TIME TO LOSE YOUR ATTITUDE OF LOOKING DOWN ON ISRAEL, and YOUR PREJUDICE AGAINST THEM. AT the RAPTURE we will be ONE FLOCK. YES, that means THEY are Part of the Bride of Christ, and are Part of the DEAD IN CHRIST that will be RAISED FIRST.
O.T. ASSEMBLY = Those who did Believe God would send a Messiah.
N.T. ASSEMBLY = Those who did Believe God DID send a Messiah.
That is the SAME FAITH as ABRAHAM.
So be prepared to move over on those heavenly PEWS, to make ROOM for OUR Jewish Believers of the O.T.
Malachi 3:6 (KJV)
6
For I am the LORD, I change not;
therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.