"believe in thine heart" ONLY Jesus can see the HEART of a Believer, as He did with the thief on the Cross, who received the Gift of Salvation.When the thief heard Jesus say, while next to Jesus "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do", that God was ready to forgive him, as He was ready to forgive the man that drove the spikes into His hands and feet. And the thief confessed with his mouth he wanted Jesus to forgive him.
Edit: the Bible does not tell us if he was Baptize, but Jesus knew, and at that moment received Grace, other wise he would not have said "Today you will be with me in paradise"
"believe in thine heart" ONLY Jesus can see the HEART of a Believer, as He did with the thief on the Cross, who received the Gift of Salvation.When the thief heard Jesus say, while next to Jesus "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do", that God was ready to forgive him, as He was ready to forgive the man that drove the spikes into His hands and feet. And the thief confessed with his mouth he wanted Jesus to forgive him. Edit: the Bible does not tell us if he was Baptize, but Jesus knew, and at that moment received Grace, other wise he would not have said "Today you will be with me in paradise"