The Two Thieves on the Cross: Why Was One Saved?

Three Men at Calvary, Three Different Destinies

There are three people in the passage we’ve just read — three people, all in the same situation. They are all on the cross, and they are all dying. By the end of our reading, all three have died, yet their eternal destinations are completely different.

One died in his sin, unrepentant, and was lost for eternity. One died to his sin through repentance, and is saved for eternity. One died for our sins, as the Redeemer, and can save for eternity.

Every person hearing this message, whether here or watching online, is following the pattern of one of the two thieves. There are no exceptions. We are all dying — it’s been this way since the fall. Romans 5:12 tells us: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” But at the end of their lives, these two men chose different paths, and went to different eternities.

Why We Are All Guilty Before God

The first thief demonstrates man as he is in his lost and sinful state. He had committed crimes and was now facing the consequences of his actions. We are all sinners before God. As our brother already mentioned from Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” — that little word “all.” We are no better than this thief on the cross; we are included in that verse.

What is sin? It’s not a popular word these days, but it is any thought, word, or deed that is not in accordance with the mind and will of God. If we measure our lives against God’s standard, we have to admit that we are sinners. No one can say they are righteous in the sight of God. Romans 3:10: “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” We are sinners, without doubt. We are judged and found guilty, and the only sentence is death and eternal punishment. Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death.”

The thief ended up on the cross because of what he had done. He wasn’t there because he was unlucky — he was there because of the choices he had made. We will end up in hell because of what we have done and the choices we have made. None of us can say we are good enough for God, because that stain of sin is on us all.

The First Thief — Rejecting Christ

Yet this thief had an encounter with the One who could have saved him from a lost eternity. He was in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. But his heart was hardened. He wanted nothing to do with eternal salvation — he only wanted to be saved from his present circumstance on the cross.

Luke 23:39: “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” He wasn’t asking for true salvation; he was looking to God as a wish machine to fulfil what he wanted. He wanted off the cross, to stop dying, and to return to his previous life.

It is entirely possible to be in the presence of the gospel — to be right next to it, to hear the very words of Christ — and still die in unbelief. This man was right there with the Saviour, looking at Him, and he chose not to be saved. You can be here tonight and hear this message. Maybe it’s the first time. Maybe you’ve heard it dozens of times before. You can be this close and still die in your sins. Your works cannot save you. Your religion cannot save you. Your attendance at church cannot save you. Salvation is found only in the Person who was hanging on the middle cross — the Lord Jesus Christ.

This thief, despite being there, failed to recognize his true need. He failed to see that what he really needed was salvation from his sin. He hardened his heart, turned away, and was lost for all eternity.

The Second Thief — Repentance and Faith

The second thief’s situation was no different from the first. He was on the cross for the exact same crimes, not by chance or circumstance, but because of what he had chosen. He was facing the consequences of his own actions.

There is no difference between us in our sins. We don’t keep track of your sins versus mine — we are simply sinners. Whatever you think you’ve done, I know what I have done, and if I tried to list your sins, I’d have to list my own too. We don’t have time here tonight to list them all. This man was in the same situation because of the choices he had made. There is no difference between any of us when it comes to our sinful state before God. We are all sinners, all facing the same condemnation.

But this thief had a fundamental realization at the very moment the other thief was hardening his heart.

“We Indeed Justly” — Acknowledging His Guilt

He acknowledged that his punishment was the result of his own actions. Luke 23:41: “And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds.” Look at what he asked Jesus for — he didn’t ask to be taken off the cross. He stopped making excuses. He confessed his guilt. He owned his own ruin. He acknowledged that God was right to judge and condemn him. Luke 23:40: “Dost not thou fear God?” Where the first thief looked at Jesus and mocked, this thief looked at Jesus and saw the Saviour of the world.

“Lord, Remember Me” — Trusting Christ

In verse 42, he acknowledges Jesus as one greater than himself: “And he said unto Jesus, Lord…” He bows his heart to the One who is Lord of all. He doesn’t ask to be saved from the cross, but recognizes he needs something far greater — to be saved from his sin. By calling Jesus “Lord,” he recognizes that Jesus alone could do that. Verse 42 continues: “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

This man never attended a church service. He had no time to change his life. He didn’t try to do good works or redeem himself. He was saved by grace alone, through faith alone. In that moment, he stepped from eternal death to eternal life.

“Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise”

Verse 43: “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” He couldn’t work off his sin — he had no time. He was dying on the cross. He made no donations. He didn’t attend special meetings. He simply asked for salvation, recognizing the One who could give it. And he asked, and he received. He was still on the cross, still physically dying — but now he had peace with God and the assurance of eternal life with his Saviour.

The first thief hardened his heart, mocked, and was lost for all eternity. The second thief softened his heart, repented, acknowledged Jesus as Lord, and was saved for all eternity.

Why Jesus Could Save the Thief

The man on the central cross was different from the two thieves. Jesus wasn’t there for crimes He had committed. He wasn’t receiving the consequences of His own actions. He was there for our crimes, for our sins — He was dying in our place. The repentant thief recognized this and said, “But this man hath done nothing amiss.”

Jesus came into this world for the express purpose of saving His people, His own creation, whom He loved. Jesus, the Son of God, gave up His position in glory, was born as a child into this world, and grew up as a man. And unlike us, at every step along the way, He did no sin. Everything He said, everything He did, everything He thought, was in full accordance with the mind and will of God, His Father. The wages of sin — death — were not due to Him. He had no sin. He knew no sin. He was the unspotted, unblemished Lamb of God, who died in our place and for our sins. No one else could pay for our sins. There was no one else suitable, no one else available without sin who could pay that price. Jesus is the only one.

He has absolute authority to save those who call upon His name. Look at His response to the thief who asked for mercy. He didn’t berate him for his past sins. He didn’t lecture him. He didn’t reprimand him for a wasted life. He didn’t tell him He’d have to think about it. He spoke with calm and certain authority as He delivered salvation to one who had acknowledged His ability and willingness to give it. Verse 43: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” He has the authority to save. He has the willingness to save. No other person is available to be the Saviour, because no one else died to pay the price of our sins. And just as that thief looked to Jesus and believed on Him for salvation, so must we. Nothing has changed since that day.

How Will You Respond to Jesus?

We said at the start that we are all following the pattern of one of these two thieves. Which one are you, as you hear this tonight? It can only be one or the other — there is no middle ground.

Are you the unrepentant thief, hardening your heart and refusing to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, even though you’ve been introduced to Him here tonight — or perhaps many times before? As I said, you can be this close and still refuse to accept the way of salvation, and you will be lost for all eternity, just as that thief was. You are facing a lost eternity in hell because of your sin and because you will not accept Jesus as your Saviour. But right now, tonight, you have the opportunity to change that future. The same Jesus who saved the second thief is still here, still ready, willing, and able to save those who call upon His name.

The thief was not turned away because he came with repentance and sincere belief. You can have the assurance of your sins forgiven by repenting of your sins and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. There’s no ritual to go through. You simply need to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, repent of your sins, and ask Him for forgiveness. You don’t need to come to a special meeting. You don’t need to meet with anyone from the assembly. There’s no waiting period, no six-month probation to see how you go. There’s no rejection. If you sincerely come to the Lord Jesus Christ, as this thief did, acknowledging Him as Saviour and asking for forgiveness, then as Jesus said, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

The other thief refused to do any of this. Remember, their situations were the same — they were both there for the same reason, the same sins. But one chose life; the other refused, and was lost.

Both men knew they had only hours left. They knew they were dying. The repentant thief, at the final moment, made the right decision.

How long do you have left in your life? None of us can genuinely answer that. None of us can say, “Yes, I know I’m going to live another thirty-two years and six months.” We all know of tragedy that takes people from us — we see it in our lives, we see it on the news. One minute people are alive; the next, they’re in eternity. Where will you spend that eternity? You have to be saved right now. Jesus can save you right now. We may only have tonight. There is no middle ground.

You are either the unrepentant thief — hardened heart, unwilling to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, on the path to a lost eternity in hell — or you are the repentant thief, who recognizes his sin, recognizes his need of a Saviour, and recognizes that Jesus is the only Saviour available. You bow your head, acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour, and step from the path of a lost eternity in hell onto the path of a joyous eternity with the Saviour, forever.

At the start of our reading, both thieves were in the same situation. By the end, they were in different situations, because of the choice they made — because of their reaction and response to the Man on the middle cross, the Lord Jesus Christ. One died in his sins and was lost. One died to his sins and was saved, because he believed on the third Man, Jesus, who died for our sins. And now this choice is yours.

You may not be dying like these two men were, but your situation is no less urgent. You are facing a lost eternity in hell unless you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. No one else can make this decision for you. No one else can take this step for you.

I was fortunate — I was brought up with Christian grandparents and parents. But I still had to become a Christian myself. I wasn’t saved because they were saved; I had to make my own decision about Jesus. You are not saved because you are hearing this message. What decision will you make? Will you harden your heart, mock, and be lost — or will you repent, believe, and be saved? Choose now. Choose wisely. Choose the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the only means of salvation.