Re death bed conversions
Someone asked the question, “Can a terrible sinner, say a murderer, go to heaven just because he says, “I believe in Jesus” just before he dies? Why would God want child molesters, mass murderers, etc. with him in heaven?”
The first thing we have to look at is the total depravity of all people. The Apostle Paul considered himself among “the worst of sinners,” so even though he was certainly not as bad as many, he wouldn’t have put himself above anyone with a criminal record, not even murderers, rapists, etc.
When we know ourselves as people who deserve God’s condemnation, when we truly understand that WE are the ones condemned by the law, it should highlight God’s grace all the more. Jesus, motivated by that attribute of Grace, provided himself as the sacrifice once, for all. There is no class of sinner whose sin was not forgiven by Jesus. That is true for every human being, whether she or he knows it or not; whether he or she repents or not. This universal fact of justification means that no matter how I feel about my sin, no matter how badly someone tries to accuse me, no matter what I have done, the love of God is available for me.
Someone who repents has been led by the Holy Spirit to acknowledge the depths of the problem. Someone who “fakes it” or who just goes through the motions or says the right thing has not repented. I won’t be able to tell, but God does. He’s not fooled.
Repentance that leads to salvation also trusts in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the way to forgiveness. This is not a light burden. Imagine how someone after a life of sin feels, when he knows how bad he has been, how miserable his condition was, and how deep the mercy of God has been! This knowledge–faith–changes his heart, and if he has the chance he will do good works thankfully. If this conversion happens at the last moment, of course, there will be no opportunity for thankful deeds of love. But God knows the heart.
I would hope that every Christian would rejoice at the conversion of any sinner, no matter how deviant or how late that conversion happens. God’s will is “that all people would be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I wouldn’t want to be more exclusive than God says he is.
If the question is “how can someone be saved ‘just because he believes’ at the last moment” — I would say, “Salvation is not caused by our faith.” Salvation has been planned, meticulously worked out, and caused by God himself. A sinner who is saved isn’t there because of any worthiness or merit, but by God’s Grace. Even faith is a gift of God.
So yes, a murderer ( or a terrible sinner like myself) can be saved through faith in Christ. This is what gives me hope for eternal life. Salvation does not come about by minimizing sin and its consequences, but because of the greatness of God’s love, power, and promise.
Pastor Daniel M. Wagenknecht
