Thats the thing isnt it? The thief believed and was forgiven. Why people refuse to accept the saved by grace through faith doctrine intrigues me.
They don’t reject it they just have studied more scripture and read things like this teaching them about grace and faith
Faith they read or hear this and believe it they don’t reject it and say to believe it means you dont understand
“But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
some hesr and believe that’s true so they realize they need to seek the lord because they believe he exists
they believe they are saved through faith but they’ve heard Scriptures version of faith
“Even so
faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea,
a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:
shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
….For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also.”
James 2:17-19, 26 KJV
Then tbey hear things like this and believe what they hear they don’t reason it away and explain why it’s not needed
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
Some believe and so they think I need to believe the gospel and get baptized and Jesus said i shall be saved ….instead others hear it and say “ that’s just not grace and faith “ ….
They read scripture for themselves and notice things and believe them . Peter preaches to these people about Jesus death and resurrection and that he’s lord then they ask what shall we do ?
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,
what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For
the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Acts 2:37-39 KJV
then they don’t try to reason why they don’t need to do anything . Instead they believe that what Peter said is true and th ey act upon it faith means something biblically
To have faith we have to hear and trust the lords word Like Moses here
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:”
Exodus 10:21-22 KJV
god tells us something and if we believe him and act upon it because we believe what he promised comes to pass. That’s what baptism is .
The thief is a bad example nothing says he wasn’t baptized
“Then went out to him
Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”
Matthew 3:5-6 KJV
he could very well had been baptized Jesus disciples also kept baptizing people after John . There’s nothing to show he wasn’t baptized it’s a bad example .