Can You Repent In Your Last Breath And Be Saved?

Name: Nichole
Question: Can someone lead a sinful life, have no relationship with God, but repent to God and claim him as their savior with their last dying breaths and still be saved?

Answer: Thank you for the question Nichole.

Absolutely, but it must be genuine. We cannot con or trick God, He is a heart knower, (Acts 1:24). That means God knows our intentions. If someone truly repents on their death bed, and they accept Jesus into their life, they will be saved, (John 3:16, Romans 10:9).

The Prodigal Son

I know the thought of a sinner repenting on their deathbed upsets some Christians. They might say,

“I have led a near perfect life, why should that sinner be saved when they converted in their final breath?”

That’s when we have to remember we are all God’s children, and He wants everyone to be saved, (Ezekiel 33:11, 2 Peter 3:9). That’s when we have to remember the parable of the prodigal son.

The prodigal son went the way of the world, he left his father, and blew his inheritance by living a sinful life. The prodigal son eventually found himself in misery and sorrow, so he came back to his father and repented. The father accepted his son, with open arms I might add.

That is exactly how God treats a sinner who truly repents as well.

So this father had yet another son, a son who never left his side. This son always did right by the father. Yet, this son was confused how his sinning brother was quickly accepted after his many sins.

The father explains,

Luke 15:31
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

The deeper meaning of this parable is the father is our Heavenly Father, and we are this blessed son. In fact, God promised for those that love Him, they will inherit His everlasting Kingdom, (Matthew 25:34). While a sinner may repent and be saved in their last breath, they will not have many Heavenly rewards.

The father continues.

Luke 15:32
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

The father explains, the prodigal brother was spiritual dead, but he is now alive. The same can be said for a sinner who repents and enters the household of God. It’s a magnificent thing, as it expands the Kingdom of God.

Accepting Jesus

However, there is a lot more to “being saved” than most Christians realize. Aside from that, we should always be happy for those who have found Jesus, no matter what stage of their life they find Him.

Now, let’s identify the very basic qualifier to be saved.

Turn your Bible with me to,

Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The person must have a true change of heart, and they must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sinner Was Saved

Now, let’s look at a real life example of a sinner repenting in their final breath.

Turn your Bible with me to Luke 23 where Jesus is being crucified.

Luke 23:39-40
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

Do you see that?

One of the two malefactors actually came to the defense of Jesus. You have to remember, Jesus was being crucified with hard core criminals. Yet, one of these criminals recognized that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.

There’s more…

This criminal recognized to “fear God,” for “the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,” (Psalms 103:17).

The malefactor continues.

Luke 23:41-42
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

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

Not only did this criminal come to the defense of Jesus, but he asked Jesus to remember him.

What would Jesus to this sinner worthy of death?

Luke 23:43
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

While this criminal was a sinner, he was forgiven by Jesus right there on the Cross. He was forgiven at his final breath. This is such an amazing account, but we should remember there is more to Christianity than being saved. In addition to salvation, there are Heavenly rewards.

Treasures In Heaven

When we think of Judgement Day, we typically think about a day of doom. For some it will be, but for the righteous, it will be reward day. The righteous are those who stand by God, and they will be rewarded just like the righteous son in the parable of the prodigal son, (Matthew 16:27).

Listen to the words of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 6:19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Treasures in Heaven are your good works. 1 Corinthians 2:9 states, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Turn your Bible with me one final time to,

Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Our rewards in Heaven are dependent on our righteous works on earth.

So while someone can convert on their death bed which is a wonderful thing, they have no righteous works. So they will not have many rewards in Heaven.

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