If I would ask you this question - Are you saved? Are you going to heaven when you die? Will you spend eternity with God? Some of you may answer, "I hope so." "I’m trying to be." "I hope I am."

If I would ask you this question, "Are you married?" Those that are married would answer, "Yes", and those that aren’t married would answer "No." There might be someone who would answer, "I don’t know." But that person would be extremely rare. And they would say that because of some weird circumstance about their marriage. If you would answer, "I don’t know, your spouse just might put a knot on your head!"

If I would ask you this question, "Where do you work?" You would certainly tell me where you worked, and if you didn’t work anywhere, you would say that you didn’t have a job. If you are a housewife, you would say, "I work at home."

If I would ask you, "Are you going to school? What subjects are you taking?" You would tell me where you go to school, and what subjects you are taking, and what your hopes and goals for life is. Would you say, "I don’t know if I am going to school or not. I hope to go to school, I plan to go to school, but I don’t know if I am going to school now or not.

II Tim. 1:12 - …for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Paul knew whom he believed, and was fully persuaded that God was able to keep him until the appointed day.

Eph. 2:1-3 speaks about Total Depravity.

Eph. 2:8-10 - 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. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Titus 3:3-7 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Salvation doesn’t come by baptism - Jesus was baptized. Why? To fulfill all righteousness, not to be saved. Matt. 3:13-17 - Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus Christ was the son of God, and didn’t become the son of God when He was baptized. We become the sons of God when we are saved, not when we are baptized.

The thief on the cross wasn’t saved underwater - he was saved on the cross. The thief was saved because he realized he was a sinner, just like the other thief. It isn’t enough to realize you have sinned, it is enough when you realize you are a sinner. The thief was being crucified because he was a thief, not because he was a sinner! The laws in that time had concluded that he was never going to stop being a thief, there was nothing more they could do to "rehabilitate" him. There was something Jesus could do, He could save him, and He did! The thief was saved because he realized Christ was more than a man. He was a man, but He was more than a man. The thief realized Christ was dying, but also knew that He was going to His kingdom. The thief realized that Christ was a king, even though He was being crucified.

The thief on the cross believed that Christ was His saviour when there was no physical evidence at all. Christ was also dying on a cross, just like He was. The thief reached out to the only hope he had – Jesus Christ.

Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

A. What did the thief know?

1. He had a deep, spiritual fear of God.

2. He had repentance toward God for his sinfulness.

3. He had faith toward Jesus Christ that he would be remembered.

4. He believes Jesus Christ is LORD.

5. He believes He has a kingdom.

6. He believes that is a good kingdom.

7. He doesn't ask to be preferred, but simply remembered.

8. He believes Christ is innocent, even though He has gone through two courts.

9. He believes Jesus is a king, even though He is dying on the cross.

B. How did he learn all this? Where did the second thief hear the gospel?

1. I really don't know, but I do know the Word of God doesn't return void.

2. I don't know, but I do know he had everything right.

3. He realized his great sin, and also realized Jesus would accept him, even though he was a sinner.

4. He realized Jesus had a kingdom and would soon come into it.

5. He realized Christ was guiltless, even though He was being crucified between two guilty ones.

a. I believe the people Christ was around daily realized His sinlessness even though He walked with sinners.

b. People ought to see our righteousness in Christ, even though we are sinners.

The Apostle Paul wasn’t saved underwater - he was saved on the road to Damascus.

Salvation doesn’t come by church membership. Judas Iscariot was a member of the first church, he heard Jesus preach and traveled with the group of apostles. He performed miracles, and did everything an apostle did, yet he was lost.

Matt. 7:21-23 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It is much more important that Jesus know you than that you know Jesus.