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The Bible doesn't say what happened to the other criminal. It was a conversation between one of the criminals and Jesus. Nor whether there was any other conversation Jesus had with those two men before all succumbed to a terrible death.My puzzlement comes from why thief number 2 leads a terrible life and then based on a two minute death bed repentance gets to spend eternity in Heaven while the other thief said the wrong thing and went to the other place.
That's been my struggle with that story and Christianity in general. There are things that just don't make sense to me.The Bible doesn't say what happened to the other criminal. It was a conversation between one of the criminals and Jesus. Nor whether there was any other conversation Jesus had with those two men before all succumbed to a terrible death.
The lesson to be learned from the passage is that we cannot earn our place in Heaven but it is never too late to accept the salvation Jesus offers.
But it is simple. One man maligned Jesus. We don't know what happened to him and that is immaterial to the story. The other man defending Jesus from the first one had opportunity to be blessed by Jesus and received assurance of his salvation.That's been my struggle with that story and Christianity in general. There are things that just don't make sense to me.
1Peter 3:18-22 with verse 18 where spirit prison is stated. Then read 1Peter 4:5-6.What is paradise and what is spirit prison? I have never heard either of those terms in the context of Christianity or the AfterLife.
The two thieves represent all of humanity. We are all suffering and dying to one degree or the other, and nothing can stop this. All have sinned and deserve death and suffering. However, the one to the right of Jesus asked him to remember him when he enters his kingdom, while the other curses Jesus up one side and down the other as he demands that Jesus save him from the torture and death if he really has the power to do so or he will not believe that he is the Christ.My recollection from Bible school is murky but this is what I recall: One thief said to Jesus "If you are the God you say you are, then why don't you save yourself and us from this misery?" The second thief said (I think) "We don't deserve to be saved I accept the punishment for what I've done. It is wrong for you to expect Jesus to save us." The first thief went to Hell but the second thief went to Heaven.
Can a Christian explain their understanding of this bible story? I could certainly be incorrect on my recounting, but this is one that has always puzzled me.
because Jesus saves, not our works....My puzzlement comes from why thief number 2 leads a terrible life and then based on a two minute death bed repentance gets to spend eternity in Heaven while the other thief said the wrong thing and went to the other place.
[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.That's been my struggle with that story and Christianity in general. There are things that just don't make sense to me.
I fundamentally do not believe this. I have not done anything in my life that deserves eternal damnation and torture. This has never made any sense to me and it still does not. I don't want to offend any Christians that is not my intent.All have sinned and deserve death and suffering.
Set aside the notion of eternal damnation and torture. Catholics describe hell as a choice. Those who have no wish to spend eternity with God will not be forced to do so, they can choose separation.I fundamentally do not believe this. I have not done anything in my life that deserves eternal damnation and torture. This has never made any sense to me and it still does not. I don't want to offend any Christians that is not my intent.
So out of the entire 1500 pages of the Bible there are just a handful of verses that describe Paradise and Spirit Prison? Are they different from Heaven and Hell?1Peter 3:18-22 with verse 18 where spirit prison is stated. Then read 1Peter 4:5-6.
Paradise: Luke 23:43, 2Corinthians 12:4 and Revelation 2:7.
Ya, the best way I’ve seen it said is spirit prison is divided into to parts, paradise and hell. Two waiting places for the judgment and resurrection. Both places have preaching and teaching going on. There is so much I want to know, Don’t you?So out of the entire 1500 pages of the Bible there are just a handful of verses that describe Paradise and Spirit Prison? Are they different from Heaven and Hell?
It seems more likely to me these places came out of the minds of humans and not the Creator. Again no offense intended, the Christian religious text is vast and confusing.Ya, the best way I’ve seen it said is spirit prison is divided into to parts, paradise and hell. Two waiting places for the judgment and resurrection. Both places have preaching and teaching going on. There is so much I want to know, Don’t you?
After the resurrection there will be two places. Heaven and Perdition. Heaven is divided into 3 levels. Paul saw the 3rd Heaven. He names 3 glories or levels of heaven in First Corinthians chapter 15. Have no idea what Perdition is like. It’s where Satan and Cane are.
That’s why it takes two or more witnesses. We have them. We have four books of scripture. One is another witness and testament of Jesus Christ. But, it’s really not confusing. I just read the words and can figure it out. You should be able to do this too. Read the text again.It seems more likely to me these places came out of the minds of humans and not the Creator. Again no offense intended, the Christian religious text is vast and confusing.
Judaism makes more sense to me.That’s why it takes two or more witnesses. We have them. We have four books of scripture. One is another witness and testament of Jesus Christ. But, it’s really not confusing. I just read the words and can figure it out. You should be able to do this too. Read the text again.
So does Christianity. Don’t give me that. The difference is that there are tens of billions that never heard of the God of Israel and may have not had the ordinances and rites given to them. The three verses I gave you shows the love Jesus has for our Father’s children and his brethren and friends. Does Judaism give this opportunity?Judaism makes more sense to me.
Judaism teaches that the afterlife is dependent on how one lived during their time on Earth. The belief is that God will judge them and those who have lived a good life will go to Heaven and those who have sinned will go to Hell.
one thief, Sticky Joe and thief two, his other brother Joe both burned in Hell each trying to blame the other brother. That's how I remember it.My recollection from Bible school is murky but this is what I recall: One thief said to Jesus "If you are the God you say you are, then why don't you save yourself and us from this misery?" The second thief said (I think) "We don't deserve to be saved I accept the punishment for what I've done. It is wrong for you to expect Jesus to save us." The first thief went to Hell but the second thief went to Heaven.
Can a Christian explain their understanding of this bible story? I could certainly be incorrect on my recounting, but this is one that has always puzzled me.
