are ever the
same, namely, repentance and faith. The first of these conditions is
strikingly illustrated from the fact that the repentant thief was thinking
of God and remembering that it was against a divine Being that he had
sinned. Of this fact he reminded his companion, intimating that they might
properly fear him into whose august presence they were so soon to be
ushered. It is the very essence of repentance to regard sin, not as a
mistake or a weakness, or as an injury to men, but as rebellion and insult
against God. His penitence was further shown in his recognition that the
penalty which he was suffering was just, and in his recognition of the
innocent sufferings of Christ.

His faith was as remarkable as his repentance. He saw in the bleeding,
dying Sufferer, One who is yet to return as universal King, and to him he
addressed his prayer: "Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy
kingdom." We do not know the source of such faith. The robber may have
heard part of the trial of Jesus; he did hear him praying for his enemies;
but whatever gave rise to his belief and trust, he regarded Jesus as a
Saviour and Lord who was yet to reign and who could bring him to eternal
glory. This story thus reveals to us the truth that salvation is
conditioned upon repentance and faith. However, it contains other
important messages also. It declares that salvation is independent of
sacraments. The thief had never been baptized, nor had he partaken of the
Lord's Supper. It is obvious that had he lived he would have carried out
the requirements of his Lord by accepting these sacraments. He did, in
fact, boldly confess his faith in the presence of a hostile crowd and amid
the taunts and jeers of rulers and soldiers, yet he was saved without any
formal rites.

It is further evident that salvation is independent of good works. The
thief was pardoned before he had lived a single, righteous, innocent day.
Of course, good works follow faith; they evidence its reality; but faith
precedes and results in holiness. A life of goodness is an expression of
gratitude for salvation already begun.

It is further evident that there is no "sleep of the soul." The body may
sleep, but consciousness persists after death. The word of the Master was,
"To-day shalt thou be ... in Paradise." Again it is evident that there is
no "purgatory." If any man ever needed discipline and "purifying fires,"
it was this penitent robber. Out of a life of sin and shame