Can’t I Accept Christ On My Deathbed?

In the early Catholic Church, it was taught that baptism did away with the penalty of Original Sin and that’s why babies were baptized. If people converted to Christianity as a young adults, they too, were baptized. In such cases, they were not only free from the penalty of Original Sin, but also any sins they had committed since then. After baptism, however, additional offenses against God had to be dealt with through other means, such as, confession and penance. For this reason, many young men postponed baptism until they could have their fill of sexual exploits and then (supposedly) through baptism, they could put the sins behind them in one vast sweep. Others carried that strategy even further, postponing baptism until their deathbeds.

I am not Catholic and I do not accept a lot of Catholic theology but I do believe in forgiveness of sins and in all fairness to Catholics, I have met many prospective converts who try similar flake out maneuvers within the paradigm of the Protestant Church.

“Can’t I accept Christ on my deathbed?” college students frequently ask me. “Won’t all of my sins be forgiven at that time?”

Sometimes they even site the Biblical example of the thief on the cross who repented right before he died and heard Jesus promise that he would go to paradise that very day.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:39-43).

What bothers me about the usage of this illustration is that it’s disingenuous. Yes, of course, it is a real conversation. Jesus did say that to the thief, but we must keep a few things in mind: This crucified criminal had not planned the conversation in advance. He lived his life without any intention of repenting and was undoubtedly unprepared to find himself so taken with Jesus that he felt sudden remorse. In his mind, asking forgiveness was a long shot. I’m sure he was quite surprised at the mercy Jesus quickly and freely offered him. I’m convinced that if this thief had survived, he would have served Christ for the remainder of his days. I do not see that same kind of sincerity behind those who inquire about “deathbed conversions.”

Theological accuracy is important to me. So is integrity when one approaches a God who knows our true motives. But I believe I came up with an effective answer to the earnest question.

“Can’t I accept Christ on my deathbed?”

“Sure…Assuming you die in bed. Assuming you don’t die today by being hit with a car or something.”

It’s fun to see the changed expression on the student’s face.

This is Bob Siegel, making the obvious, obvious.