For most Christians, the thief on the cross represents people on this earth — people who are saved by merely believing in God. We can read the story of this thief in Luke 23:39-43 where Christ was drawing near to His death. One of the criminals who was crucified with Him showed a sign of faith in Christ. Many assumed that Christ granted the criminal salvation at that very hour.
Did the thief on the cross go to heaven with Christ on the very day he died? Many use this to prove that only faith is needed. But what does the Bible say?