I didn’t even think of Baptism of Blood before, so basically because he wasn’t baptised before but converted on the cross be received the effects of sacramental baptism - including remission of temporal punishment due to sin - after death. So he would actually have been in Heaven that day.
It is unclear if the thief would have gained access into heaven, but it does say paradise which also means the bosom of Abraham or upper part of hell where the righteous dead were being held captive because of original sin.
Prior to Jesus coming and dying for all mankind, all those who died were held in death.
When Adam sinned, he sold the souls of all mankind unto death. So all who died were taken to one of two places in hell and death. The upper part of hell known as the bosom of Abraham where the righteous dead were held. The lower part of hell which was and is a place of torment to the unrighteous where they are reserved until the day of judgment.
Because no man could live a life without sin, all men were held in the place known as death and hell. That is why God sent his Son. Jesus came and lived a life without sin and when he was put to death, because he was innocent of death, death could not hold him and he was worthy of resurrection.
Yet, by Jesus dying, he died for all mankind, so that all who believe in him would not be sent to that place known as hell and death.
The interesting part is that by the sin of one man, death was brought to all mankind. And by the death of one innocent man, life was bought for all mankind.
Jesus said, " He who believes in me will never die. "
And he spoke truth. For though a man dies in his flesh, his soul does not die, does not get cast into that place known as hell and death.
Jesus said, " He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
He indeed spoke truth. For though a man dies in the flesh, his souls lives in Christ and goes to be with Christ in paradise.
Now, all the righteous dead prior to Jesus’ resurrection could not assend into heaven til after Jesus defeated death.
And it is written that by the heart, a man comes unto righteousness, and by confession unto salvation.
Those who were righteous and were still held in death were set free when Jesus went and preached to them in death and hell. They were already righteous in their hearts. That is why they were in the upper part of hell known as the bosom of Abraham. Yet, they could not make confession unto salvation until Jesus defeated death and came and preached to them.
Now, when a man dies in Christ, his body sleeps in the earth awaiting to be resurrected on the day of resurrection. The soul goes with Christ. And on the day of resurrection, the souls of those who died in Christ come with him and will be reunited with their bodies that have been resurrected, changed from mortal, to immortal.
So what happens to a child that dies? Do children go to heaven or go to hell?
First, to answer this question, you must ask yourself what causes men to be cast into hell. Sin.
Children are innocent of sin. When a child is born, God breathes the breathe of life into the child. The child remains alive in spirit until he understands the laws of God, and that he cannot life a sinless life, live according to the laws of God. This is what is known as the age of accountability. This is when the spirit of the child is no longer that of a child, but of a young adult, thus dying in the spirit because of sin.
Yet, if a child dies without the understanding of the law, the child is innocent in the eyes of God and goes to be with God.
The point is this, if a child reaches the age of accountability, then he dies in his spirit and must have his spirit born again in him if he wants to enter the kingdom of God.
So it is written a man must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. John 3
And when a child reaches the age of understanding, then the child is no longer a child, but a young adult who is in need of forgivness.
- that he would be in Paradise with Him, not Heaven. The two are not the same.