I wrote last year about the movie Once We Were Slaves by Dallas Jenkins, director of The Chosen. It’s about the two thieves, and it’s worth the 26 minutes. Dallas sets it up beautifully. The two thieves are brothers: one is irreligious, given to crime. The other is studying to be a rabbi. When the Romans assault his fiancé, he lashes out at them, and they both end up on death row. Guess which one “will be with Me in Paradise.” The standard title above includes “the good thief.” Watch the movie, and you might not be sure that’s true…

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23.39 – 43, NIV)

Grace. No baptism. No knowledge of “the plan of salvation” or any other theology. No works. Nothing. Alistair Begg captures it beautifully in this 4-minute clip that you have to watch only two and a half minutes of. The angel at the gate of heaven says, “How did you get here?” The answer?

The man on the middle cross said I could come.