May 1, 2003, Vol.3, No.9.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "What
About the Thief on the Cross?" (see
below)
and "Religious Intolerance"
What About the Thief
on the Cross?
by Keith Sharp
 When
faced with a Bible passage that plainly teaches the necessity
of water baptism for salvation, many of our friends protest,
But what about the thief on the cross? He was saved forty feet
above the high water mark! He never got his big toe wet! I want
to be saved just like the thief on the cross. Surely this unnamed
malefactor must be the most popular criminal who ever lived!
The story of the thief on the cross is found in Luke 23:32-33,39-43.
"There were also two others, criminals, led with Him
to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called
Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on
the right hand and the other on the left. .... Then one
of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, If You
are the Christ, save Yourself and us., But the other, answering,
rebuked him, saying, Do you not even fear God, seeing you are
under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive
the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.,
Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your
kingdom., And Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you, today
you will be with Me in Paradise."
Since Jesus promised him, "Assuredly, I say to you,
today you will be with Me in Paradise," the malefactor
was indeed saved. Does his salvation nullify the necessity
of water baptism for the remission of sins?
In order to answer affirmatively, one must answer "yes"
to three questions. Please consider each one.
(1) Does this one case nullify
the plain teaching
of Jesus Christ and His inspired apostles?
The Lord certainly taught that baptism is a condition of salvation:
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but
he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16)
His apostles plainly proclaimed the same truth:
"Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one
of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,"
(Acts 2:38).
Since the word of God is truth (John 17:17), it does not contradict
itself. Does this case contradict the precepts of the Lord and
the apostles?
(2) Can you prove the thief
on the cross
was not baptized?
He was crucified in Jerusalem in Judea.
"But when John preached in the wilderness and baptized
in Jordan: all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went
out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan"
(Mark 1:4-5).
Furthermore, Jesus "made and baptized more disciples
than John" in the same region (John 4:1-3). The thief knew
Jesus was Lord (Luke 23:42). How did He know that if He had not
heard John, Jesus or His disciples preach? Why did he call Jesus
"Lord" if he was not a disciple? Are you sure the thief
was not baptized? The burden of proof is on the one claiming
him as an example of salvation without baptism. Are you willing
to risk your soul on it?
(3) Is the salvation of the
thief on the cross
a pattern for our salvation?
We live in the New Testament age (Hebrews 9:13-15). The New
Testament did not acquire force until after Jesus died on the
cross (Hebrews 9:16-17). The Lord blessed the malefactor with
the promise of paradise as they both hung on crosses, before
the death of Christ. The conditions of salvation were different
at that time. For example, we must believe in the death, burial,
and resurrection of Christ to be saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-4),
but no one could believe these facts before Jesus' resurrection.
The answer to all three questions is "No."
No, the salvation of the thief on the cross does not nullify
the necessity of water baptism for the remission of sins.
But what if the Lord had made an exception for the thief
on the cross? As the Master told Peter, when Peter asked
about John, "If I will that he remain till I come, what
is that to you? You follow Me." (John 21:18-22)
Friend, stop quibbling about the Lord's commands and obey
Him.
"But why do you call Me Lord, Lord,, and do not do
the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46)
"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized,
and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
(Acts 22:16)
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