The thief on the cross who called Jesus "Lord" did not do any works of keeping the law/10 commandments. Yet he is in paradise with Christ.
First of all, he is not in paradise yet but that is another topic.
This illustrates exactly what I have been saying. Works, Law keeping, obedience does not justify or save a person...
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
the above scripture gets a lot of press but there is more to the story...
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we
shall be saved by his life.
BUT, according to what you say above, that thief is dead because he had no works of the law.
You contradict what Jesus said to that thief.
apparently you have not read the passage very critically...
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
This has been discussed before but here we go again...
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me
when thou comest into thy kingdom.
When? When Christ comes into His Kingdom. When is that?
Luk 19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because
they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
They, the disciples, thought the Kingdom would appear immediately. Christ then gave them a parable. Why? Because He was imparting to them the understanding that the Kingdom would NOT appear immediately. If the Kingdom was to begin immediately, He would simply have left the subject alone.
Luk 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
The Nobleman is Christ, the far country is heaven and He is returning to the earth. This passage gets misquoted a lot...
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Christ is returning and will set up the Kingdom at His return, at the resurrection...
Dan 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Dan 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Happens at the time of the end, the time when the Beast and the ten kings are destroyed...
Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
That thief on the cross is God's example to us that we're saved by grace, and not be works of the law.
I am pretty sure no one here has been teaching that we are saved by works of the Law, but some are teaching that Lawlessness is what Christ came to bring...
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'