Does It Fit?

The other day while mindlessly scrolling through social media I came across a video that really intrigued me. I cannot remember the guy’s name or anything significant about him, but one line in the video stuck out to me. He said, “How does the thief on the cross fit into your theology?”

The guy goes on to explain a few different aspects of how the thief doesn’t fit the normal mold of Christian we see. I cannot remember everything he mentioned, but he did say that the thief never said the sinner’s prayer, never took communion, and was not baptized, but he still went to heaven.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about that the past few days. Particularly, what was unfolding in the comment section. If you ever want to fully lose faith in society, read the comment section of any viral post.

Anyways, some commenters took a universalist slant, others railed against denominations, some said he was probably baptized earlier in life, and others were bashing religion. It was a smorgasbord of bad theology.

One of the primary roles of apologetics is to defend Christianity against heresy. In my opinion, heresy only includes the issues most essential in Christianity, first order issues. Dr. Albert Mohler states, “First-level theological issues would include those doctrines most central and essential to the Christian faith. Included among these most crucial doctrines would be doctrines such as the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, justification by faith, and the authority of Scripture.”

If the thief on the cross challenges a first-order issue, we need to be prepared to answer those questions. I cannot even begin to determine the motives behind the making of the viral video, but it did open the door to explain the gospel and it did raise questions about the most central part of Christianity, who and how can we be saved.

As Southern Baptists you should feel very good about the way the thief on the cross fits into your theology. Our confession of faith, the BFM 2000, says this about salvation, “Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.”

If we look at the text in the Bible the video describes closely, we don’t find universalism or bad theology, we find justification by faith alone. We find a man that recognized his sinfulness (Luke 23:39-41). We find a man talking and repenting to God Almighty in human form and acknowledging His kingship (Luke 23:42). Then we find God forgiving him (Luke 23:43).

This passage doesn’t just fit into my theology, it is the cornerstone of it. Jesus saves sinners. He saved me and He can save you too if you just ask.