1Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.” 6But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down); 7or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)” 8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach: 9that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 13For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? 15And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace,
who bring glad tidings of good things!”
16But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly,
“Their sound went out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”
19But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says,
“I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation.
I will make you angry with a nation void of understanding.”
20Isaiah is very bold and says,
“I was found by those who didn’t seek me.
I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.”
21But about Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
It's Never Too Late
Icon of Saint Dismas the Repentant Thief
The Penitent Thief
As Jesus hung on the cross, He had two criminals hanging on either side of Him. One of them insulted Him, mocking Him, saying, “If you’re really the Messiah, then save yourself and us.” Scripture tells us that the other one rebuked the mocker, confessing that Jesus had done no wrong, and then he said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” The penitent thief’s words are loaded with theology. They tell us so much and settle so many arguments. All we know from his words is that he called Jesus 'Lord' and believed that Jesus would truly rise again, taking him into His Kingdom. The observant reader will note that the thief was never baptized. He didn’t have a lifetime of righteous works. He didn’t join a church. He didn’t sing in the choir. He repented. That means that he changed his mind about his own sin condition, and he acted on it.
Paul tells us, “9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 WEB)In that moment, the thief confessed that Jesus was his Lord, and he believed in his heart that Jesus would rise again. The penitent thief was saved in that moment. We also learn from this exchange that the believer enters heaven at the moment of death. No soul sleep occurs. There is no purgatory. There is no midway step. When you and I take our last breath, our next breath will be in heaven. We, too, will be with Jesus in “paradise.” That means we’ll be with Him in heaven. God could have arranged for Jesus to die alone on a cross, but instead He gave an example of the choice that we each must make concerning Jesus.
The unrepentant thief denied that Jesus was anything special. He didn’t see Him as Lord, and he certainly didn’t believe that God would raise Him from the dead. That thief doomed himself to eternal separation from God and hell. The penitent thief merely believed, trusting that this innocent man, this Messiah, would have a Kingdom and would bring him into paradise. The same choice is presented to each of us. I trust you’ve made that decision. If you haven’t, do so today. Choose Jesus. Declare that He is the Lord of your life and put your faith in Him to raise you from the dead just as he arose. The penitent thief has become known as St. Dismas. His name is used for many prison ministries. His testimony reminds us that even up to the point of our physical death, it is never too late to trust in Jesus. It is never too late to secure your place in paradise.