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The Thief on the Cross
When our Lord was crucified at Calvary, two thieves were also crucified with him, one on his right, and want on his left, Matt. 27:38. Both of them railed on him, Matthew 27:44. But later one repented, as we read in, Luke 23:-43, "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." Thus this man feared God, believed in Christ and his kingdom and repented; as we see from what has been stated and necessarily implied from the text.
Now many people cite this case to prove that one does not have to be baptized to be saved. Let me make two observations. #1. How do you know he was not baptized sometime earlier in his life? #2. In Hebs.9:15-17 we read, "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth." The writer points out to us that a testament or a person’s will, is not in effect till the death of the testator. The thief was given salvation before the commands of the Great Commission were given, read, Matt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:14-16, Lk. 24:46-48. Jesus said in these texts, that those who believe in the death, burial and resurrection, who repent, and are baptized shall be saved. Our Lord places baptism as a condition of salvation, just like repentance and faith are conditions of salvation. The thief on the cross did not live when Jesus gave the Great Commission after his death, but we do! So we better follow what Jesus said for us to do, in order to be saved, and not leaned upon vain reasoning to deliver us. Revelation 22:14, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
