Can a person steal heaven? No one ends up in Heaven because of a surprise decision God made at the moment of their death. No one ends up in Heaven because of the good they did in life. No one ends up in Heaven because of a ritual someone performed on them or for them at the end of their life. There are two questions in this post. How does someone make it to Heaven, and is there really anyone on earth who has the authority to forgive another person’s sins?
Did Tony Sirico really steal Heaven? At his funeral, his brother said he did – but did he? And if he did, his brother said he wasn’t the first to do so. According to Father Robert Sirico, the precedent for ‘stealing heaven’ was established a long time before Paulie Walnuts of The Sopranos.
Although Tony Sirico wasn’t the first person to engage in some reckless and troublesome behaviour in his younger years, the record shows he did his share. Before he became an actor, he had been arrested 28 times, convicted of several crimes and served 20 months of a 4-year prison sentence. It seems his time in prison was instrumental in changing the trajectory of his life.
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A scene from an episode in The Sopranos TV series
Reflecting on his acting career spanning three decades, Sirico said: “I’ve done like 45 movies, played 40 gangsters and five crooked cops.” (1)
Throughout his acting career, Sirico received accolades and awards for the roles he played. However, it was his role as Paulie Walnuts in David Chase‘s Emmy award-winning drama, The Sopranos that catapulted him to undisputed fame. But life – like fame is fleeting. In July 2022 after 79 brief years, the curtain came down for the last time on his stage of life and Tony Sirico entered the eternal realm.
Stealing Heaven
At the funeral, Father Robert Sirico said his brother Tony stole heaven just like the thief who hung on a cross beside Jesus. (2) I wasn’t familiar with that expression – stealing heaven. So, I have been doing some thinking about it. People can steal a lot of things – but can anyone steal heaven?
The priest correctly related the Bible account of the thief turning to Christ on the cross. He told the mourners that the thief on the cross did not argue his innocence or deny his guilt. Sensing his immediate and eternal need, he turned to Jesus and said:
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And He [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43
But could that transaction at the cross be classified as a sinner stealing Heaven? Stealing implies stealth and secrecy. And there was none of that at the cross. That thief couldn’t have been more open and transparent and honest about his own sin and guilt and the punishment he deserved.
While the thief on the other cross continued to mock Jesus, this thief turned to his partner in crime and said: “Do you not fear God?” He was keenly aware that he had to face God with his sins. Fear gripped his soul as he thought of his accountability to God. His own culpability weighed heavily on his mind. He told the other thief: “We are getting exactly what we deserve for the things we have done.” Maybe he was late to acknowledge that there are consequences for sinning against God – but not too late.
The repentant thief was contrasting his own guilt with the innocence of Jesus on the middle cross. His hardened heart was softened as he thought of Jesus. He told his friend – “We are getting exactly what we deserve but … [get this] …but this man has done not one thing wrong.”
Can you remember a time in your life when you faced your own sin and guilt before a Holy God – when you realized you deserved to bear the eternal penalty of your sins? In Bible language – that is called repentance. Jesus said:
“Except you repent, you will … perish.” Luke 13:3
In desperation, the thief cried out to the only One who could forgive his sins and accept him into God’s kingdom. He said: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This lost and helpless sinner’s plea – his prayer was heard. Jesus responded: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.
Only faith could believe that a man crowned with thorns with spit covering his face, bruised and bleeding and hanging on a cross – had a kingdom. The thief acknowledged his own personal guilt and the beautiful innocence of Christ and, by faith, turned to Him for eternal salvation. Yes, any sinner (baptized or unbaptized) who consciously turns to Christ before their death receives eternal life and salvation.
Who Can Forgive Sins?
Father Robert Sirico (L) with his brother Tony Sirico (R)
Small Confessional Stole
The last time Father Sirico visited his brother in Florida, he said:
“I sensed that the end was coming, so as we sat in a private place, I pulled a confessional stole out of my pocket, I looked into his eyes, and I said, “How about that confession?”
My brother agreed, and I did one of the most significant things that a priest can ever do for another human being. I absolved him of his sins—all of his sins. (3)
Even though the term “stealing heaven” is not a Bible term, I think I can now understand the sentiment when someone uses it. But what is diametrically opposed to the teaching of the Bible is that any mortal being on earth (religious or otherwise) has the authority to absolve or forgive another person’s sins. No pastor or priest has the ability or the authority to forgive sins that have been committed against God – regardless of their sincerity, faithfulness or godliness.
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If your neighbour burned your house down and your City Mayor told you: “The other day I was visiting the arsonist and he was crying about his crime. So I forgave him for burning your house down,” what would you think? Difficult to see the logic in that. You are the one who has been wronged. Only you can grant forgiveness. The Mayor can’t do it.
The Bible clearly says there is no earthly mediator between God and humans.
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“There is one God, and there is one [yes, only one!] mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all… (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
No pastor, priest or saint is a mediator – Christ alone is the one and only mediator.
The Bible is also clear that no one can forgive sins but God alone – and Christ is God. This rhetorical question is recorded twice in the New Testament – Mark 2:7 and Luke 5:21:
“Who can forgive sins but God alone?
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25)
Friend, if the only comfort you have about your sins is that you have confessed them to a pastor or a priest or some other human, and they have performed some ritual to signify that your sins have been forgiven – your comfort is a false one.
Father Sirico said: “I did one of the most significant things that a priest can ever do for another human being. I absolved him of his sins—all of his sins.” With all due respect – no human being has the right or the authority or the ability to forgive even one sin – let alone all sins against God. That being said – our hope is that in the final days or hours of Tony Sirico’s life, in his heart he turned to Christ for forgiveness and salvation.
Here is the good news from the Bible:
The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1john 1:7
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Psalms 86:5
That one thief called out to the only one who could forgive his sins and accept him into His kingdom. The thief called out audibly but the Lord also hears the inaudible cries of your heart.
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man [Jesus] is preached to you the forgiveness of sins. Acts 13:38
In Him [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7
Would you like to experience God’s complete forgiveness today?
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