Question 8

If baptism is necessary for salvation, why did the "thief on the cross" not need to be baptized?

A: The baptism that Paul spoke of, in Romans 6:3-7, was for the purpose of being buried into the death of Jesus Christ, and to be raised up in the similitude of His resurrection. When Jesus spoke these glorious words, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.", He had not yet died on the cross, nor had He resurrected from death. The thief, therefore, was not able to experience baptism into Jesus' death and the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:3-5). Simply put, the "thief on the cross" was not an eligible candidate for the baptism of the New Testament. (see Question 5: What is baptism?)

Jesus' command of baptism, is part of this "will" of His New Testament (Matthew 28:19). Jesus told His apostles that His saving blood is of the New Testament (Matthew 26:28). Just as we must die before our last will and testament can be enforced; Jesus likewise, had to die before His last will and testament could be enforce (Hebrews 9:16-17). This still leaves the question: How could Jesus save the thief before He died, and before the thief had opportunity to experience New Testament baptism into the death of Jesus Christ? The answer: He simply forgave the thief because He could. In the same way he forgave the man with the palsy, in Mark 2:5-11; He said it, and it was so. Sin has no power over God, before or after the cross. Even so, we must not assume that just because Jesus could save by any method, that He would save by any method. Jesus, under the authority of His New Testament, has now provided "baptism into His death" (Romans 6:3-7) as the means for contacting His saving blood (Ephesians 1:7).

Some may claim salvation like the thief on the cross, but can they do so without also claiming salvation apart from the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? When we closely examine Jesus' New Testament (see The Gospel of Jesus Christ), and baptism's role of uniting us with His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-7), we can understand its necessity for entering into the saved relationship with Jesus Christ.