"You Will Be In Paradise"

[Jack Ryan]

For today's WT study w18 December par. 16

Before dying, one of them acknowledged that Jesus was a king and made the request: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your Kingdom.” (Luke 23:39-42) Your future is involved in Jesus’ reply, found at Luke 23:43. Some modern scholars give this word-for-word rendering: “Truly I say to you, today with me you will be in Paradise.”

If a criminal who deserves to die, and mocks Jesus to his face even during the crucifixion itself (read the whole passage), only has to profess he wants to be remembered by Jesus at the very last minute, then the whole purpose of needing to get people baptised and dedicated as JW's is rubbish.

This passage suggests belief in Jesus is enough and that even as late as your dying breath you can be redeemed! So works are not what saves you, being baptised is not what saves you, being identified with a certain church is not what saves you. Belief and faith in Jesus is what saves you and even mocking Jesus can't kill you if you have a last minute change of heart.

Reading this properly has serious consequences for the validity of WT theology, and I always had trouble with this passage when I was in as I couldn't understand why we had so much pressure to go door to door as much as possible and strong arm people in bible studies. The passage suggests Jesus only required we spread the good news so they could believe and not fanatical pestering of people to beome part of a fundamentalist religion.

[Jack Ryan]

Just want to point out that there were two criminals. One who mocked Jesus and the other who chastised the mocker. The criminal who chastised the other criminal asked Jesus to be remembered. Jesus' following words can be directed at the 'good' criminal or both, but that is ambiguous. That's to say its unclear if Jesus forgave the criminal who mocked him

[Melinda Mills]

Both the criminal and Jesus were about to die that day..  The criminal could not repent, be converted and be baptised as time had run out for him. (1 Peter 3:19) Jesus could read hearts and knew that this particular criminal who asked him to remember him when he got into his Kingdom (rules over Paradise) had a good heart and in time would come to know God and love Him.  He assured him he would be there in the earthly realm of the Kingdom (Paradise).  He would be in the Memorial tombs (John 5: 28,29) and he would be among the unrighteous whom God will resurrect through Jesus to learn about Him and  given the opportunity to choose to serve Him or not. Acts 24:15 also speaks about righteous and unrighteous ones who will come back to learn and to benefit from the priestly services of Jesus and the 144,000 king-priests. During that 1000-year reign he will have ample opportunity to learn God's will, see the majesty of Jehovah, appreciate his way of  doing things and grow to love him.
(*** Bible Citations ***
"(Isaiah 26:9, 10) In the night I long for you with my whole being, Yes, my spirit keeps looking for you; For when there are judgments from you for the earth, The inhabitants of the land learn about righteousness. 10 Even if the wicked is shown favor, He will not learn righteousness. Even in the land of uprightness he will act wickedly, And he will not see the majesty of Jehovah."

It is clear that those with a good heart condition will learn righteousness, but some will prove to be wicked and will not benefit. Jesus knows this man will be resurrected so he can benefit; this particular criminal is already looking promising when we read his comment concerning Jesus not deserving this fate. He has a sense of justice and fairness. He also has faith and confidence in Jesus' ascension to his throne in the future.
 

[Guest Indiana]

1 hour ago, Jack Ryan said:

Jesus' following words can be directed at the 'good' criminal or both, but that is ambiguous.

In the Spanish version of the Bible, he directed his words to only one person, he said "te digo" not 2 or more people "les digo" 

[Queen Esther]

“You will be with me in Paradise.”—LUKE 23:43.

“You will be with me in Paradise.”—LUKE 23:43.

JESUS'  words  to  the  criminal,  next  to  him  at  the  stake.... 

Our  WT- Study on sunday, Februar 10.  2019,  with a wonderful  TALK, about the resurrection.