God Not Bound

One of the problems with Catholic theology is that they claim we are bound by the new covenant, but God is not. Their answers to the thief on the cross question are pretty good, except they argue into a realm that is false. They say God is not bound by his word.

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/the-good-thief-and-salvation-by-faith-alone

(So all that follows is based upon speculative inference, that without the inference no doctrine would be required to answer it. Thief on the Cross theology forced catholics to formulate thesis that changed their theology)

Here is part of the article 

"is that even if the good thief  had never been baptized, the analogy between his life and most other people’s is insufficient to support sola fide. One issue is that the thief lived and died under the Old Covenant. The sacraments, such as Christian baptism and the Eucharist, are part of the New Covenant, which was not fully in place until Jesus died (Heb. 9:15-18, Acts 19:1-6).

Another problem with the analogy is that the good thief’s situation was unlike virtually any person’s in history. What God does for someone in an extremely unusual context should not reassure anyone outside those same conditions. Further, treating this “edge case” as a general principle actually proves too much. Would any Christian agree that the gospel can be boiled down to asking to be remembered in Jesus’ kingdom? Moreover, if the good thief is a standard-setting example, why not others? Jesus forgave the sins of many people in a wide variety of circumstances that few consider normative today. In Mark 2:5, for instance, Jesus forgives a man based on his friends’ faith! What does that do for “salvation by faith alone”?

A third reason why this story doesn’t support sola fide is that the good thief on the cross actually seems to have exhibited all the faith and works that he could, given his situation. The fact that his physical limitations made it impossible for him to do anything more than speak was certainly not lost on God! Amidst all the assumptions made about this short story, one that seems safe is that had any sacrament been made available to the good thief for salvation, he would have received it. This hardly supports the theology behind sola fide, which eschews the need for good works under any circumstances.

In conclusion, it is important to understand that the Church makes many normative statements that are easily criticized when made into absolutes, and the sacraments fall prey to these illicit attacks all the time. The Church actually teaches that although we are bound to God’s sacraments, God is not. The Church baptizes because that is how God revealed that New Covenant believers enter into salvation (e.g., Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 2:38, 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21)—but this does not mean God cannot save without baptism (see CCC 1257-1258). The same might be said of the Eucharist (cf. John 6:53-54). God looks on the heart, not just the body—and a person who unwillingly cannot participate in the sacraments is not judged for that.

There are unusual and extreme situations when normative salvific requirements cannot be met, and yet salvation remains possible. God knows this, and the Church teaches it. But unusual circumstances do not disprove normative expectations. By his grace, God can save through (genuine) faith alone, of course, but it is a mistake to make an exceptional act into a theological rule—especially one that directly contradicts Scripture.

God is indeed bound by the covenant he made, or he lied. We know he doesn't lie.

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 

God's promise of eternal life was before creation, but it unfolded in promises and covenants. The first promise was before mankind was made, so no faith could stem from the original promise. We were not alive to hear it. We know God promised so he was bound to every promise. Yet, as mankind grew promises and covenants were made that we could hear. These are the promises we are saved by."

The thief was not saved outside of God's covenant, it is simply being used to create a false theology. The thief had a faith extending back to John's word that the Kingdom was nigh and to believe on him who was to come. The thief believed in the coming messiah even though he fell into sin.

Yet, Catholics make the claim God saves some outside of these promises or covenants. Namely, outside of the current covenant. They argue the thief on the cross was saved outside of the covenant he was under. Which is false. He was under the Old Covenant which allowed confession, and he believed the core preaching of John the Baptist.

This would mean God saves outside of the New Covenant, and without the salvation elements within the New Covenant. Not even faith in Christ required. Imagine being saved without Christ's blood if God so chose. So, why would God use a covenant at all if God could break it, or save without it.

The Cathollic theory isn't Godly or sound. Many covenants are perpetual and for all creatures. 

Gen 9:12  And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 

This was the covenant of the rainbow, but our promise and covenant is no different. God still remembers and keeps the rainbow covenant because he cannot lie, he is 100% faithful. Imagine making the claim that God is not bound by this covenant.

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

It is to every creature And for all ages. Limited to those called.

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

The Catholic idea that God judges the heart of those uncalled so they can be saved, is false, for the human race has all fallen into sin.

"there are none righteous, no not one"

God would be judging simply to find those who are less bad morally.

God gives salvation to the forgiven, not simply to the less bad. God judges men's hearts by Jesus, not outside the Gospel.

Rom 2:16  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.