Salvation: What about “death bed” repentance?

In case you don’t know, “death bed” repentance is a term people have created to describe those situations where a person doesn’t accept God’s provision for their salvation until a short time before they die. There are those who doubt people can be saved when they wait till then to turn to God [repent = a change of mind] for salvation.  The case people often refer to for a response to this is the one concerning the salvation of the convicted thief on the cross who died along about the time our Lord did on His cross.  This crucified man certainly wasn’t in bed, but he was only minutes away from death.  Let’s note the conversation that went on there.

Luke 23:35-42

³⁵ And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [EKMUKTERIZO = to turn up the nose, to scoff] him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

³⁶ And the soldiers also mocked [EMPAIZO = mocked] him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar [OXOS = cheap or inexpensive wine],

³⁷ And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

³⁸ And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.

³⁹ And one of the malefactors [A compound noun—KAKOS = evil & ERGON = working] which were hanged railed [BLASPHEMEO = blasphemed, slandered, or reviled] on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

⁴⁰ But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

⁴¹ And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

⁴² And he said unto Jesus, Lord, REMEMBER ME when thou comest into thy kingdom. [Emphasis added]

This was all there was to it for the salvation of this man.  He didn’t have to join a church, get baptized, promise to change his ways, or anything else.  He just came to the realization that this man Jesus who was with him there on a cross was the promised Messiah He claimed to be. For him it was much as it was for the Roman Centurion who there made a statement about this—

Matthew 27:54

⁵⁴ Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. [Emphasis added]

All this that occurred was at a time when all that was demanded for salvation was acceptance of this Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah. I have an article about that on this website. Here’s the link to it—

Jesus Christ: What does it mean to believe on His name?

Luke 23 continued—

⁴³ And Jesus said unto him [the thief on one of the other crosses], Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. [Emphasis added]

There is no punctuation in Greek text.  This could say—I say unto thee today or Today I say unto thee thou shalt be with me in paradise.  It seems the latter would be more likely what was said.  But either way, this man secured his salvation on this occasion when he was just minutes before dying.  When he died, he then went to a place called Paradise.  There are other articles on this website that relate to this.  Here are the links to two of them—

Hell: Did Jesus Christ go there?

Death: Are deceased Christians now in Heaven?

This story just clearly shows that as long as a person is alive there’s hope for their salvation.  But statistics do show that the longer one waits to accept Christ for salvation the less likely it is that it will ever occur.  All unbelievers are for good reason encouraged to accept God’s offer of salvation immediately.

2 Corinthians 6:2

² (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured [BOETHEO = helped, have come to the aid of] thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.) [Emphasis added]

This is a part of why we speak of one being saved.  People are saved in the sense that they are no longer under everlasting condemnation. And we don’t do anything at all to gain this new status.  Salvation comes to us by grace through faith alone in the Savior, Jesus Christ.  So many people seem to have such a hard time accepting this.  But the reality is that salvation is free to any person who simply accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]

This is stated multiple times and in multiple ways throughout the apostle Paul’s writings but there’s not one any plainer than the one you just read.  But this offer of salvation has an expiration date.  That’ll either be the day you die or the moment the Rapture occurs.  For more information about this event, please read my article about it—

Rapture: What is the meaning of this term?

Some people even believe they’ll somehow have a second chance to be saved after they die.  But there’s nothing in the 66 books of the Bible that teaches that. Some people even believe in a place called Purgatory that provides people with a second chance.  But here again I have an article about this. I hope you’ll invest some time in reading it.  Here’s the link to it—

Purgatory: Does it exist?

I beg you to take the time to investigate all this.  Both where and how you spend all eternity depends on this.

It is also important for you to know that any continued rejection of these truths on your part makes you less sensitive to this information.  Also, please realize that until you’ve accepted it, you’ve rejected it.  What was true in the past about this is still true today.

John 3:18

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [Emphasis added]

Rejecting Christ hardens one’s heart to all this causing a person to get steadily more hardened in their unbelief.  I even have an article devoted to that subject on this website—

Heart: What does it mean to have a hardened one?

So please don’t delay in making the decision.  Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior now and among other blessings you’ll probably sleep a lot better tonight knowing your salvation has been secured and settled forever.

Conclusion—

Just know that we’re all just one heartbeat away from stepping into eternity. When you take your last breath, your destination will have already been settled.  You’re then either going to Heaven or hell.  Again, I have an article on this website about this place called Purgatory.  I think you’ll find it interesting and perhaps surprising to see what the Bible says about all this. Again, here’s the link to my article about this—

Purgatory: Does it exist?

But as long as you’re alive you can be saved. Entrance into Heaven will be the most wonderful event of your life. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll get that matter settled right now.

Acts 16:31

³¹ And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, … [Emphasis added]