Actually the thief did several things.
1. He choose to believe in the gospels he heard preached. That’s an action. To listen to something and place trust in it being real
Is an action.
2. He confessed that Jesus was Lord when he recognized that Jesus was coming in glory in his kingdom.
3. He repented. He turned his mind from sin to goodness. He accepted his punishment for
The crimes he committed.
Then Jesus forgave the man of his sins just like he did the paralyzed man.
Matthew 9
New American Standard Bible
A Paralytic Healed
9 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over
the seaand came to His own city.
2 And they brought to Him a (
C)paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This
fellow blasphemes.” 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? 5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he got up and went home. 8 But when the crowds saw
this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.