Controversial is the one who triggered the inspiration for what follows concerning the thief on the cross who was not saved by works. I have added this to my study, it still needs editing, especially for those still leaning on understanding.
Going on to maturity is carried by the Holy Spirit and could be years after the night of following Christ in our understanding:
"Strive to enter in at the straight gate, for many I say to you will seek to enter in and shall not be able."
We come as we are to wait on the Lord and be empowered by His Spirit; powerless otherwise to put away our divided spirit and go on to perfection. The two thieves on the cross with Him, represent the whole world: with free will taken away all that is left is a believer willing to suffer with Him and find mercy, and a would be believer needing proof by being delivered from suffering and given His free will back: to have his life back. But If we live like the thief who wants his like back, we still suffer but our work is in vain, not putting off our old life we have no reward for our work, "But a fearful looking for judgment. "The thief on the cross who believed in Jesus is the first to experience "Having fellowship in the sufferings of Christ, being made conformed to his death." Two obvious reasons and one not so obvious: He believed, and had free will taken, and was not offended to suffer with Him. This is the experience of the night of the Spirit with Jesus, our free will overtaken in the will of God. The dim Light we have in Christ, sufficient influence of Grace to lose our life and follow Him to the Resurrection. "I have the Power to lay down My Life and I have the Power to take it up again." As we seek first the Kingdom of God, we have a glimpse of His Resurrection, by His Spirit sharing His victory with His friends. "In a race all compete but there is only One winner." "This is the rest were You will cause the weary to rest, nor by might not by power but by My Spirit sais the Lord." His yoke is easy, as He already finished the work by Himself, but requires our agreement, "As laborers working together with Him." The work is adjusted for the stronger to bear more of the load and He lets us bear what we can handle to develop in "Faith that works by Love," that we may obtain a crown of Life and not remain among the nations of the saved. Left to follow Him in bearing the Cross as Simon did for the Lord. "Fulfilling what is left behind of the sufferings of Christ for the Church." "A new commandment I give to You, that you Love one another; as I Love You, that you also Love one another." Loving His enemies struggling in pride of achievement under the law to prove themselves to God and insisting others struggle as they do: without seeing Unconditional Love of God. "Those who compare themselves among themselves are not wise." The Holy Spirit giving us rest, we cease from our own labor as God did from His. "Now we are laborers in agreement with God, encouraging you to be reconciled to God." Those who obtain rest from dualistic thinking in knowledge of good and evil are no longer dominated by ego: the fruit of the sin nature is a divided spirit in knowledge of good and evil: I'm right and your wrong. Love is the Power of the Holy Spirit to turn an enemy into a friend. "Let no one turn you away from the simplicity of Christ. "We are delivered from causing divisions as we walk in the Spirit, "Perfect Love delivers us from all fear," and satisfies our heart so that we no longer thirst after the world. As long as we continue to Live in the sight of God and don't take things in our hands again, we remain in the will of God and drink from the source of Living Water. If we fall "We have an advocate with the Father, in Jesus Christ."