Because the conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment (Jn. 16:9) was already there.
***And almost every person to whom I’ve preached the gospel has acknowledged they are not perfect. Only one said she was perfect, without sin. It was obvious she was completely deluded. For all others, the Holy Spirit has already begun that task. We get the distinct honor of telling them that God loves them. They can figure it out for themselves that they have fallen short and need a savior. There certainly are plenty of believers around who are eager to bring up unbelievers’ sinful state.
Also, every single person to whom I’ve preached has already heard that Jesus died for their sins. They don’t care because they don’t know that He is God. The vast majority of people I preach to have not heard that Jesus was put to death because He claimed to be God Himself.
The situation that the thief on the cross was in is the same situation that the vast majority of nonbelievers find themselves in today.
Honestly, what in the world are you reading, or with what glasses? The Bible certainly does not just tell souls God loves them and leave them to figure out for themselves that they have fallen short and need a savior!
It is not enough to know you fall short, but must realize where this places you, as most believe their good deeds versus bad deeds balance sheet, with some ambiguous idea of mercy, will judge them fit to Heaven, rather than coming to Christ as damned sinners who are destitute of any merit, and who turn in their heart to Christ, wanting a new life with Him.
The vast majority of people I preach to have not heard that Jesus was put to death because He claimed to be God Himself.
That was the charge used to do so, being blind to Him being God, but they did so bcz they hated Him for He convicted them of sin. In addition, He did not simply die to show God's love, but because that is the only way only way damned+destitute sinners can be saved.
The situation that the thief on the cross was in is the same situation that the vast majority of nonbelievers find themselves in today.
That is honestly absurd, unless perhaps you are in some prison, as very very very few souls are convicted of their need for salvation as damned+destitute sinners, being under the burden of sin, as we see in Acts 2, and 16.
In fact a major error today is that preaching a message that targets a suicidal jailer convicted of his need for salvation, and who thus cries out, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Jesus testified to the world that the things it did were evil, as in warning, "woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep." (Luke 6:24-25) For in contrast, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." (Psalms 34:18)