Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? 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, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)

18 for the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1. He had a fear of God in his heart.
2. He confessed he was a sinner.
3. He confessed Jesus was not a sinner

Luke 23:43 (ESV)

43 And he said to him, "Truly I say to you , today you will be with me in Paradise."

The question is not "Are you a criminal or thief?"

The question is...