The faith of the thief was salvation, he was saved just by making a request from the deepest part of his heart and JESUS knew how sincere the thief was and as a result he was saved.
It could be that the thief had always desire to have an encounter with JESUS but life's situations or friends who could not save him when he was caught stealing kicked against it.
Lets look at it this way,grace came to play in the life of the thief, mercy was at work, just by doing what he thought was just a normal thing which is shutting his fellow thief from mocking JESUS CHRIST.
That little time he had to speak with JESUS,he made good use of it and that earned him Heaven
Luke 23:39-43 (KJV) 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
In the above Bible passage in verse 40 we can see that theif talked about the fear of God.
He had the fear of God,but yet he was under the influence of friends .
Thanks and God bless you all.
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