For the record: John 6:53 “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”
Also for the record:
Luke 23:40-43 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Poor guy never did have a chance to get off the cross and go to Mass.
Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
“Poor guy never did have a chance to get off the cross and go to Mass”
You’re right but no where did Jesus say he was going to heaven. You assume that. But even if he did and the thief mde it to heaven without being “born again” or baptised, so what? God can do anything he feels like doing and causing the Big Big was one of them.
We all know Jesus could and does forgive sinners, as He delegated that power to the Apostles (Mat18:18). He certainly could have forgiven the man on the cross next to Him.
I bet the poor sinner was never baptized either, but all of these things are management decisions, and we are just in sales.
Here is the context of Romans 10:9. Others have said it better, so here it is:
“Thou shalt be saved. To confess the Lord Jesus, and to call upon the name of the Lord, (ver. 13.) is not barely the professing of a belief in the person of Christ: but moreover implies a belief of his whole doctrine, and an obedience to his law; without which the calling of him Lord will save no man. (St. Matthew vii. 21.) (Challoner) -— This passage must be understood like many others of this apostle, of a faith accompanied by a good-will ready to perform what faith says must be practised; as it is required in this very place, that what we believe in the heart, we should confess with our mouth. (Estius)”
Also, demons know that Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead. They have said so. In fact, Jesus commanded them NOT to reveal His divine nature. So, proof texting doesn’t work.