If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Recall the thief on the cross next to Jesus, the one who said that he deserved to die but “this man hasn’t done anything wrong. Then he said ‘Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me. In paradise.’” Luke 23 41-43
Jesus didn’t make the thief climb down from the cross and be baptized! He didn’t make him go to a class on prayer first, or become a member of a church.
The thief confessed with his mouth and believed in his heart that Jesus was Lord andhe was saved!
Many religions of today have created stumbling blocks to accepting Jesus. It’s a wonder any come to saving grace through the organized church. I know this is a broad generalization.
What happens to a young man who overdoses and dies? Do we know what happened in his last breath? The Bible says that if the young man believes in his heart he is saved. I know that blows a whole lot of modern practices out of the water.
Granted, it’s not best to slide into heaven with your tail on fire, barely escaping the grasp of satan. But it is a valid path! You may disagree with me, but I refer you to the verses above.
This begs a dive into our thought life, but that is a subject for another time.