Oftentimes, people wonder if last-minute repentance can truly lead to salvation. They ask, do people really receive salvation through dying-minute repentance?
Scriptural message on last-minute repentance
Luke 23:39-43 provides a biblical account of last-minute repentance. As Jesus Christ was crucified, two thieves were also crucified alongside Him—one on His right and the other on His left.
One of the thieves, ignorant and unrepentant, mocked Christ. He questioned how Jesus could call Himself a Savior if He could not even save Himself. The other thief, realizing that Christ was innocent, cried out to Him, asking to be remembered in His kingdom. In response, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” The sinner was saved.
This account reveals God’s deep interest in the salvation of our souls. That was the very essence of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion—He came and died so that we might be saved.
Yes, a sinner can repent on their deathbed and be saved. However, what truly matters is the sincerity of the repentance. Was it a heartfelt plea for forgiveness, or was it merely motivated by fear of life after death?
The thief on the cross cried out sincerely to Jesus, and he was saved. The timing of repentance is irrelevant if it lacks sincerity. The Bible teaches that God cannot be mocked—we cannot deceive Him. He knows our innermost thoughts, for He created us and understands us better than we understand ourselves.
James 2:13 states, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Romans 9:15-16 affirms God’s sovereignty: “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. So it is God who decides to show mercy.” Salvation is His decision alone, not man’s.
However, one should not intentionally live in sin with the expectation of repenting at the last moment, hoping to secure salvation. No one knows the exact hour they will die. To gamble with eternity is to risk losing the chance for true repentance and redemption.
