We shall again refer to holy writ, and ask the candid attention of the reader to the proofs we place before him.
If we had the history of two persons, the one good and the other bad, after they left the earth, or laid down their bodies in death, it would serve as a guide to decide upon the future destiny of the whole human family. Fortunately, there is left upon record such information, and by it we can determine this all-important question.
No one will dispute the assertion that Jesus of Nazareth was appropriately termed the "Just One," a person of pure and holy life.
The confession of guilt by one of the men crucified beside Jesus, is testimony enough to convict him of being a bad man. "We received the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss" (Luke 23:41), were the words of the malefactor, thus confessing that death was the proper penalty for the many crimes he was guilty of.
Now, here are two persons who were born upon the earth, lived out a certain number of years, and then laid down their lives, their bodies becoming cold and inanimate in death, while their spirits, freed from their earthly tenements, passed into another stage of existence, leaving their remains to be cared for in the ordinary rites of sepulture.
While suffering the agonies of crucifixion, a conversation was carried on between them, which will serve our purpose in opening up an investigation.
"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42, 43.)
The request of the thief was so far favorably looked upon, that he had the promise that he should accompany Jesus to a place which He designated as paradise. He could not have consistently granted him the privilege of entering into His kingdom, when He had replied to Nicodemus: "Except a man be born of water (baptized) and of the Spirit (received the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5.) The thief, not having attended to these ordinances, could lay no claim to that privilege; but, says Jesus, "To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
We are aware that the majority of the Bible-believing world are of the opinion that the thief was permitted to enter heaven, and enjoy the presence of God; but is this idea a correct one? Let us candidly examine it, and see; for upon it hangs a great principle of truth.
After the body of Jesus had lain three days in the tomb, the spirit again entered into it. The angels rolled the stone away from the mouth of the sepulchre, and the resurrected Redeemer of the world walked forth, clothed with an immortal body of flesh and bones.