The thief on the cross was saved without baptism, which is sometimes used as a reason to say that baptism is not necessary. But when we look at the matter more closely, we see that the criminal on the cross should not have been baptized at that time because he was saved before the commandment to baptize was given. Jesus gave the general commandment to baptize 40 days after the events of the cross. Mark 16:9-20. Acts 1:3. Thus, the thief on the cross was the last person to be saved from the old covenant. The new covenant began with Jesus’ death: “This is the new covenant in my blood!” Luke 22:20. Jesus was still alive when He forgave the sins of the criminal on the cross next to Him. The thief prayed in agony, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42,43. He was thus saved as a borderline case, when the old covenant was exchanged for a new one.
Jesus is the only Savior! His blood cleanses the sinner who repents of his sins and calls on Jesus for help. Rom. 10:13. And Jesus gives everyone ”a future and a hope”. Jer. 29:11-13. He saves even the worst sinner. He does not leave the person he saves as he was before, but of those who have come to faith, whose sins have been forgiven and who have repented and then been baptized, it is said: ”Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, the new has come!” 2 Cor. 5:17. / Acts 18:8.
The unbaptized is in Adam. The baptized is in Christ. ”For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Gal. 3:27. 2 Cor. 5:17. ”Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye were raised with him through faith.” Col. 2:12. Rom. 6:4.
Only those who have come to faith can be baptized. Just as a newborn child is washed after birth, so the regenerate must be baptized immediately, ”by the washing of water.” Thus we can understand the ”washing of regeneration” in its proper connection with the forgiveness of sins and the baptism of immersion received after regeneration. ”He saved us, not by works of righteousness which I have done, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5. John 3:5.
Baptism is performed by the brethren of the congregation, ”for in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” 2 Cor. 13:1. When the thief on the cross was saved, the commandment to baptize had not yet been given. Therefore, he should not have been baptized. But ever since the commandment to baptize was given, baptism has been an absolute requirement for all believers. The Bible clearly teaches that in the early congregation ALL believers were baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus! No one was left unbaptized. ”Let every one of you be baptized…” Acts 2:38,41. ”Then those who received his word were baptized…” ”And they continued… in the apostles’ teaching…” Acts 2:41-42. The Bible does not teach that the unbaptized are part of the new covenant congregation.
Baptism is an essential part of the salvation process of the human soul because it involves the burial of the old man through baptism into death. Rom. 6:3,4. ”Repent and be baptized, every one of you…” says Acts 2:38. So there are two things: 1. ) repentance and 2. ) baptism. So if repentance is necessary, then baptism is necessary. – Can we say that repentance is not necessary? In that case, we can say the same about baptism. But we say that both are necessary because God has given them to us as equally valuable. After the baptism command was given, the Bible does not know the concept of an ”unbaptized Christian.” The Bible only knows a converted Christian who has been baptized in water in the name of Jesus after coming to faith. A baptized Christian is a biblical Christian!
Acts 10:48.
The necessity of baptism should not be underestimated. The Bible warns about it, among other things, in Gal. 1:6-9. 2 Pet. 3:16. Rev. 22:18,19. And the unbaptized thief on the cross is not set as an example for us.
”If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”Acts 22:16. Titus 3:5. After baptism, you too will have the same faith as the first Christians.
Weijo Lindroos
Turku