Quote:
Originally Posted by AreYouReady?
What many of us do not realize is that God knows everything we ever said or even thought. He sees the heart. We do not.
He promises us salvation if we repent. If the dying brother repents and believes on his deathbed, would it be any different than the thief on the cross? Jesus saw that man's heart.
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Yes, it would be different, for the thief on the cross lived and died while the terms of the former covenant was in effect (Jesus had not yet been glorified therefore the New Covenant was not yet in effect). Under the law forgiveness of sins was obtained when an Israelite brought a sacrifice to the priest and repented of his sins, after which the sacrifice (usually a spotless lamb) was slain and its blood placed upon the altar.
The thief on the cross repented to the High Priest who shed His blood on that very day, thus making provision for the thief to be saved. However, because we no longer live under the terms of the Law (the former covenant), then our salvation is obtained by obedience to the directions prescribed by our Lord - repentance, immersion in the waters of baptism "in the name of the Lord," and the receiving of the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in another language as the Spirit gives the ability to speak.
It is sad that one only feels a need to be saved when brought to the point of their demise, oft-times when circumstances preclude their obedience to the terms of God's "new" covenant with man. The question I'm sure such folks will confront at judgment is why did they wait until then, when they were given so many opportunities prior to that moment to obey the gospel.
While I certainly have empathy for anyone under such conditions (and believe me, at my advanced age I've often witnessed such), there remains little one can do except pray that God would somehow make provisions for that person to recover sufficiently that they might become able to do what God demands of us all, without exception.
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