DEATHBED SALVATION? BY STEVE FINNELL

Jesus said Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved..." (NKJV)

Men say if a man confesses Jesus as the Son of God on his deathbed but does not have time to be baptized in water he will still be saved. If a believer can be saved without water baptism, then why cannot an atheist who was planning on believing in Jesus but died before he had time to believe not be saved?

Do men have the authority to change God's terms for pardon from sins?

THE THIEF AND DEATHBED SALVATION?

The thief lived and died under the old covenant. 

To be saved like the thief, a few things have be true.

1. Jesus has to be alive hanging on the cross.

2. You have believe Jesus is Lord and Christ.

3. You have ask Jesus to remembers you when He comes into His kingdom.

4. Jesus has to tell you "today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)(NKJV)
5. To be saved like the thief, you have to be saved without having received the Holy Spirit. (John 7:39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive ; for as yet the Holy Spirit  was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) (NKJV)   

The thief was not saved under the terms for pardon under the new covenant.

1. The thief was not baptized in water for the forgiveness of his sins. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2. The thief did not believe that God had raised Jesus from the dead; how could he? Jesus was still alive. Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.(NKJV)

Was the thief on the cross saved ? YES HE WAS. Can men living under the new covenant be saved like the thief on the cross? NO THEY CANNOT.