The Thief on the Cross
INTRODUCTION:
Luke 23:39-43 - While Jesus was dying, there was a conversation with the two thieves who were dying with Him. One ridiculed Him. The other defended Jesus and recognized Jesus was innocent. Jesus promised this one would be in Paradise that day.
This saying of Jesus has become a center or controversy. Many folks believe they are saved today by "faith only" and baptism is not essential to being forgiven of sins. When the subject is discussed, these folks often argue that the thief was saved without baptism and this example shows people today can do the same.
Consider Jesus' statement about the thief. Does it mean we can be saved by faith alone without baptism?
1. We really do not know whether the thief was or was not baptized.
Multitudes had been baptized by John the Baptist and by Jesus' disciples (Matt. 3:5,6; John 4:1,2). It is entirely possible that the thief was baptized and then later fell into sin. In this case, he would be an erring child of God not in need of baptism like an alien sinner. We cannot argue this is a case of salvation without baptism unless we know the person was not baptized.
2. The thief is also not an example of salvation by faith.
Those who argue for salvation by "faith only" cannot use the thief to defend their position either, for he did not have the kind of faith that is required for salvation today.
Romans 10:9 - that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
To be saved according to the gospel we must believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead. The thief on the cross could not possibly believe that because Jesus had not died, let alone been raised.
Hence, people who believe faith is essential to salvation cannot use the thief as their example for how to be saved. He was no more saved by the faith of the gospel than he was saved by baptism. We could as easily use the thief to prove salvation without Scriptural faith as we could to use him as an example of salvation without baptism.
Even those who believe in salvation by faith only must admit we today are not saved like the thief was saved. But if we today are not saved like the thief was saved, why bring up the fact he was not baptized?
3. Many Scriptures clearly teach that baptism is essential to receive forgiveness under the gospel.
Mark 16:16 - He who believes and is baptized will be saved.
Acts 2:38 - Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.
Acts 22:16 - Be baptized and wash away your sins.
Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27 - We are baptized into Christ, into His death. We have newness of life after we have been baptized (John 3:3,5).
I Pet. 3:21 - Baptism now saves us.
(For further information, see the links at the end of this page for our study on the purpose of baptism.)
God's word does not contradict itself. It clearly teaches baptism is essential to receive remission. Therefore, the thief cannot prove people ARE saved without baptism for that would contradict other Scriptures. So there must be some other explanation for the case of the thief.
4. The thief was saved while the Old Testament was still in effect. He is not an example of salvation under the gospel at all.
The truth is that the thief was saved under a different law and dispensation than we are under. That is why it does not matter whether or not he believed what we must believe, and for the same reason it does not matter whether or not he was baptized. How he was saved is irrelevant to how we are saved.
Col. 2:14 - Jesus removed the first ordinances nailing them to His cross. Until Jesus died, the Jews lived under the laws given at Mt. Sinai through Moses. When He died, those laws ceased to be in effect.
Eph. 2:13-16 - He abolished the old law through His blood shed on the cross (v13,16).
Heb. 10:9,10; 9:16,17 - Jesus removed the first testament and replaced it with His new covenant the gospel. It is under this new testament that we are saved by Jesus' death. As with any will or testament, Jesus had to die to bring His testament into force. The old law was in effect until Jesus died, then it was replaced by the New Covenant. [Cf. Gal. 3:13; Rom. 7:4]
But the thief was forgiven before Jesus died and therefore while the first covenant was in effect. The conditions he had to meet to be forgiven prove nothing about the conditions under which we are forgiven. He proves no more about how we should be saved than does David, Moses, Noah, or Abraham. They did not have to believe what we do nor did they have to be baptized because they did not live under the same law we do.
5. While Jesus was on earth, He had the power to forgive people directly as He chose. After His death, people can be saved only according to the terms of His will.
During His life, Jesus directly spoke the forgiveness of several people (Mark 2:5-12; Luke 7:48,49; cf. John 8:1-11). Apparently the thief is another such case. But the conditions under which He forgave people then are not the terms of the gospel since, as shown above, it was not yet in effect.
During his lifetime, a man may distribute his possessions to anyone he wishes in any way he wishes. But after his death, no one has any right to receive anything from the man except according to the terms of his will or testament. The will does not come into effect till He dies.
So Jesus directly forgave people during His lifetime (apparently according to His ability to read their hearts and observe their lives). The gospel came into effect after He died, and people today receive forgiveness only by complying with its terms. Those terms require baptism, as well as faith, as per verses already listed.
Jesus is the Lord and Savior. Only He has the right to announce the terms under which He will forgive men. If we seek His forgiveness, it must be according to the conditions He has revealed.
(C) Copyright 1999, David E. Pratte (Click for our copyright guidelines).
Why We
Need Forgiveness
Should Babies Be
Baptized?
Is Baptism
Sprinkling, Pouring, or Immersion?
The Importance of
Obedience
Salvation by
"Faith Only" vs. Obedient Faith
Should Alien
Sinners Pray for Forgiveness
What about the Thief
on the Cross?
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