Richard

Baptism, as presented in the scriptures, is a burial in water (Rom 6:4) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). When one has faith in Christ, confesses that

faith, repents of his sins and is baptized into Christ, he is forgiven, added to the church (Acts 2:47) and given the hope of an everlasting home in heaven
(1 Pet 1:3-4). Unfortunately, down through the years many have argued against the necessity of baptism for salvation. In an attempt to negate baptism,
some have turned to the passage involving the thief on the cross - the one to whom Jesus said, “...To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
They say, “The thief wasn’t baptized but he was saved.” However, their conclusion is flawed. Why/how is it flawed? How would you respond to such a
challenge against the necessity of baptism? (By the way, here is something that sometimes isn’t taken into consideration: Is it possible that the thief was
baptized?)

In a previous bulletin article, I asked you to give some consideration to the topic of baptism (its necessity for salvation) and the thief on the cross. In this article (and Lord willing, one to follow next week) we’ll give the matter some consideration.

First of all, let’s remind ourselves of some things taught in the New Testament regarding baptism and salvation. “...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...” (Acts 2:38). “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...” (Mark 16:16). “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away they sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). “...[B]aptism doth also now save us...” (1 Pet 3:21). These passages and others clearly indicate the necessity of baptism. But, what about the thief on the cross?

We must realize that all of time can be divided into three separate periods - the Patriarchal Age, the Mosaic Age and the Gospel Age. Throughout these time periods, God has dealt and communicated with mankind through various avenues. During the Patriarchal Age, God communicated His will through the patriarchs (fathers) of the families. The Mosaic Age comprised that period of time when God dealt with the Hebrew people through the Law of Moses. The Law remained in place until Jesus “...took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col 2:14). Since that time, mankind has been living in the Gospel Age. Such will be the case until Jesus’ second coming. It is important to realize that each time period had/has its own specific instructions pertaining to obedience. So, at the time of the thief’s conversation with Jesus, which age was still in place? - the Mosaic Age. Therefore, we should not expect the situation regarding the thief (under the Mosaic Age) to be equally applicable to us (under the Gospel Age) and vice versa.

Obviously, Jesus was still on the cross at the time His conversation took place with the thief. Therefore, He had not yet died and shed His blood for the remission of sins. So, today’s role and purpose of baptism had not yet been instituted. After all, consider Paul’s words in Romans 6:3, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (emp. ad.) In verse 4, Paul then goes on to explain that baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Clearly, at the time of Jesus’ conversation with the thief, baptism did not yet have that representation.

The age in which one lives makes a significant difference as to what is required to be obedient - even within the context of baptism. Yes, it is true that John the Baptist, Jesus and the disciples of Christ taught and practiced baptism (see John 3:22-23). They did so during the Mosaic Age while pointing forward to, and preparing the way for, the Gospel.

according to the baptism of John (i.e. not baptized into Christ). However, they had been living under the terms of the Gospel Age. As a result, Paul instructed them to be re-baptized into Jesus Christ. So again, clearly, the age in which one lives makes a significant difference as to what is required to be obedient.

With these things having been said, we find that the real heart of this matter is actually the authority of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (NAS). Therefore, Jesus had the authority to forgive sins directly in accordance with the terms He chose. We find an example of this in Mark 2:5 when Jesus told a man, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” I find it interesting that this passage is rarely called into question in the same manner as Luke 23 with the thief on the cross. Simply put, if Jesus decided to forgive the sins of an individual, He had the authority to do so. Such was the case with the thief on the cross.

Now that the New Covenant has been instituted and we are living under it in the Gospel Age, we must abide by its teachings to have the hope of salvation. We must therefore follow the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9-11) as revealed in the New Testament scriptures. That means we must be baptized in order to be saved in accordance with the previously referenced verses.

With these things having been said, there’s an important question that we need to ask ourselves: Are we certain that the thief on the cross was not baptized? That question might be surprising to some. Yet, it’s an important aspect of our topic under discussion. Lord willing, I’ll address it in next week’s bulletin.