What about the thief on the cross? Luke 23:39-43 What about the thief on the cross?

What the bible says about baptism: Acts 2:38 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. 1 Peter 3:21   Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (ESV) Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. This is probably the most popular argument against what the Bible says about baptism.

The argument goes like this: The thief on the cross was not baptized. Yet the thief on the cross was saved. Therefore baptism is not necessary for salvation.

Granted, the thief was saved. Jesus had this power to forgive sins and exercised it. Luke 7:36-50 Mark 2:1-12 Jesus offered him salvation. Luke 23:42-43

The thief’s situation is not analogous to ours. The thief was saved before baptism in the name of the Lord was commanded.

Baptism in the name of the lord Commanded AFTER Jesus died and arose. Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16 Acts 2; Acts 10:48 It was a baptism into His death, which had not yet happened. Romans 6:3-4 John’s baptism was around, but it was superseded. Mark 1:4-5; Acts 19:1-5 Luke 7:29-30 The thief was never subject to baptism in the name of the lord. Adam, Noah, Moses, David, etc.

The thief’s situation is not analogous to ours. The thief was saved before baptism in the name of the Lord was commanded. The thief was saved before the new covenant began.

Old vs. new covenants The old covenant was between God and Israel. Deuteronomy 5:2-3 It contained no commandment to be baptized. It ended when Jesus died on the cross. Ephesians 2:14-16, Colossians 2:14 The new covenant is now in force. Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 8:6-7; Isaiah 2:2-3; Acts 9:15-16

We live under the new covenant We must submit to Christ's authority as expressed after His death - authority delegated to His apostles. Matthew 28:18-20; John 13:20, 14:26, 16:13 They clearly commanded baptism – Acts 2:38, 22:16, Acts 10:48 Evidenced by every case of conversion in Acts.

Conclusion Yes, the thief was saved on the cross without baptism. For which we should be thankful For which we should give God praise for His wonderful grace But the thief's example is irrelevant to the issue of baptism. He died before Christ ever issued the command to be baptized into His death. He lived under the old covenant, which did not require baptism into Christ.

conclusion The thief on the cross would be relevant IF You lived BEFORE the command to be baptized into Christ was given You lived under the OLD covenant You were in the presence of Christ and he told YOU "Assuredly, I SAY TO YOU, today YOU will be with Me in Paradise."

conclusion But here are the FACTS You live AFTER the command to be baptized has been given. You live under the NEW covenant, in which baptism has a crucial role. Christ has commanded YOU (and ALL) through His apostles to be baptized - Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 10:48; 22:16