[Rennes Templar]

“Then how do you explain Jesus’ interaction with the thief on the cross?”

I think it demonstrates my case. Jesus forgave a thief. The thief’s public demonstration of faith was enough to offset his debt, literal and spiritual. Now were this man a serial murderer or child rapist, would Jesus have said the same thing?

[ShadowAce]

...would Jesus have said the same thing?

Yes. Sin is sin. There are no levels, or degrees, of sin.

In fact, I will go one step farther--there is only one sin. All our "sins" are but symptoms of that one sin.

[Iscool]

I think it demonstrates my case. Jesus forgave a thief. The thief’s public demonstration of faith was enough to offset his debt, literal and spiritual. Now were this man a serial murderer or child rapist, would Jesus have said the same thing?

Of course he would have...

[metmom]

I think it demonstrates my case. Jesus forgave a thief. The thief’s public demonstration of faith was enough to offset his debt, literal and spiritual. Now were this man a serial murderer or child rapist, would Jesus have said the same thing?

You're presuming that the thief was simply a thief.

Considering the men crucified with Jesus were crucified for insurrection, likely it was more than just stealing.