We're guilty of the crimes that we have committed.

We deserve this execution, but this man is innocent.

As soon as your eyelids close in death,

and my eyelids close in death,

we will be together.

But in paradise.

In the course of his crucifixion, much was said about the thieves that were crucified

beside Jesus.

In the initial stages, both of them joined in mockery of Jesus and with the crowds who were saying,

he saved others, but himself he cannot save.

And if you really are the Son of God, come down from the cross.

And finally, one of the thieves had more of this than he could stomach.

And something happened suddenly, transcendently, supernaturally, as the Spirit of God opened

his eyes and he said to the malfactor that was being executed with him, hey, we're guilty of the crimes

that we have committed. We deserve this execution, but this man is innocent. Then he turned

to Jesus, and he said, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

If ever there was a deathbed conversion, there it was that afternoon on the cross next to Jesus.

And Jesus gave his personal assurance. next to Jesus.

And Jesus gave his personal assurance of salvation to the thief next to him, saying, I say

to you, today you shall be with me in paradise.

There are those historically who have argued that the souls of people who die in Christ do not go immediately into the presence of God,

to paradise or to heaven, but rather they remain in a state of suspended animation, a kind

...