Is a death bed conversion possible?

TL;DR:

Death bed conversions are possible, but the Bible warns that life is short and tomorrow is never guaranteed. The wisest choice is to believe in Jesus today and live with the joy and security of salvation now.

what does the bible say?

Nearly two thousand years ago, John the Baptist told his followers that the kingdom of heaven was at hand and that they should repent (Matthew 3:2). We are now at the point in history in which Jesus has not only come to earth, but He has died for the sins of the whole world, been raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven; we have every evidence we need to believe in Jesus Christ and receive eternal life (1 John 5:13), including completed Scripture. While death bed conversions are possible, as was the case with the criminal on the cross in Luke 23:42-43, such conversions are not what we should stake our eternal destination on because we do not know the hour we will take our last breath. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Once we understand who Jesus is and what He has done for us, we must not harden our hearts (Hebrews 3:7-8) and put our conversion off—but rather believe in Him so we can start living in freedom in this life and receive eternal security with Jesus in the next life. James 4:14 is a solemn warning that reminds us how fleeting this life is. Knowing this to be true, we should believe in Jesus while we still can.

from the old testament

In Psalm 39:4, the psalmist pleads with God, “make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!” When we realize how short our lives are, we understand that we need to make the best of it by serving the Author of life.
Solomon, a man who had more wisdom (except for Jesus), riches, and honor than any other, concluded, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Our life is fleeting, and then we are judged. Intentionally living a life of materialism or hedonism means missing out on the joy of being a child of God.

from the new testament

While a death bed conversion can be legitimate, it is not preferred. In fact, the Bible often speaks of accepting salvation immediately. John the Baptist, for example, taught, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).
A clear example of a death bed conversion in the New Testament is found in Luke 23. Jesus was crucified between two mocking criminals, yet one of them came to believe in Jesus. The Bible states, "And he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' And [Jesus] said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise'" (Luke 23:42-43). This criminal clearly believed in Jesus and Jesus clearly promised the man eternal life.
Second Corinthians 6:2 says, "now is the day of salvation." When we come to understand Jesus and how we can be saved, we should believe immediately. This will bring us into a beautiful place of reconciliation with God in which we can start living the rest of our life with Him and for Him. It also crucially secures our place with Him forever.
Hebrews 3:7-8 urges us to take action in receiving salvation: "Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." We should not harden our hearts in fear, but rather receive salvation in Christ before it's too late—for we do not know when we will die.
James 4:14 teaches, "You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." Putting our belief in Jesus Christ is an urgent matter. Our eternal fate may come before we expect it to, so we are wise to believe today.
The Bible teaches that we can know for sure where we will be one moment after we die. First John 5:13 promises, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." When we believe in Jesus Christ, our salvation is forever secured with Him in heaven.

implications for today

When people speak about a death bed conversion, they usually refer to a person who chooses to believe in Jesus as their Savior just before he or she dies. While the case of the sinner coming to faith right before his death in Luke 23 proves death bed conversions exist, Scripture teaches that life is short and eternity is long. It is dangerous and foolish to procrastinate putting our belief in Jesus Christ when we know who He is and what He has done for us. The Psalmist wrote, "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away…. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:10, 12). John 3:16-18 lays out the gospel message for us in clear terms: “"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” If you are unsure about your salvation, you can settle any doubts right now. Romans 10:9 says, "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."

Please visit our truth about salvation page to find out what it means to be saved.

understand

Death bed conversions are possible.
Life is short, so it’s foolish to wait until close to death to accept Christ as we don’t know when we will die.
We lose the joy of relationship with the Lord when we put off accepting His free gift of salvation.

reflect

Why is it important to remember that tomorrow is not guaranteed, especially in light of eternity?
What do you do to remind yourself of life’s brevity and to make the most of each day?
How might your life have been different if you put off accepting Christ as Savior?

engage

How can Christians impress upon others the importance of accepting Christ now rather than waiting?
What are some joys of salvation that we can tell unbelievers about?
How can Christians reach a culture that often accepts the “carpe diem” (live for today) philosophy?