Many people today mention the thief on the cross and don't think they have to be baptized because the thief was not baptized and Jesus assured the thief he would be in heaven with Him. but what some people don't seem to understand Jesus was alive on the cross when he forgave the thief's sins but when Jesus died the only way now to have your sins forgiven would be to be baptized.i believe this....what do you think?
2007-04-02 15:52:32 · 26 answers · asked by josie 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jesus died on the cross and now is alive in heaven with His father the living God
2007-04-02 16:35:47 · update #1
Josie,
You are absolutely correct. The Theif on the cross was forgiven by the Messiah. HE is no longer available to do so. We have been told exactly what is necessary to receive salvation. Study these scriptures and see what you think. To become a Christian:
1. HEAR - Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
2. BELIEVE - In Mark 16:16, Jesus said “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
3. REPENT - Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
4. CONFESS CHRIST - 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
5. BE BAPTIZED - Romans 6:3-4 do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
6. CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL - Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Send me a note if you have questions. I am anxious to hear from you. Have a Great day.
Eds
2007-04-02 15:56:33 · answer #1 · answered by Eds 7 · 0⤊ 6⤋
What evidence do you have that the thief on the cross was not baptized? The bible does not mention the name of every person that was baptized, and it is quite possible that the thief on the cross was indeed a baptized Christian.
Just like today, there are prisons the world over, full of Christians that have made mistakes in life, the thief on the cross could quite easily have been a baptized Christian that in his weakness stole a loaf of bread or some money.
In fact that Jesus was able to promise that the thief would be with him in paradise suggests that the thief had been previously baptized, but because he had stolen something he had to repent, just as any Christian today that commits sin would have to repent.
The gospel of Mark clearly states, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved"
2007-04-02 16:14:13 · answer #2 · answered by serialcoyote 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus did not promise the thief he would be in heaven. HIs exact words were thus; "Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise."
The promise to those who listened was never restricted to life in heaven. For a fact, the promise is for life. Although for some eternal life will be in heaven, by default for billions they of logic can only have eternal life on earth. Otherwise, all the people who lived and died before Jesus offered up his life, have no hope at all.
The Bible also speaks of those who though, not knowing the law, did by nature, the things of the law, and as such, were a law unto themselves. For these, no baptism is needed, only the fact that by nature they lived righteous lives.
2007-04-02 15:57:09 · answer #3 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can be saved with out being baptized. All you have to do is ask Jesus to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins! Really mean it from the heart! Also live for Jesus and put Him first!
2007-04-02 17:02:44 · answer #4 · answered by purplebutterflyrain 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe u should be baptized . Jesus was baptized, and in Acts 2:38 John said, repent and be baptized. But baptizm alone will not save u. Yes under some circumstances I believe u could go to heaven today w/out being baptized.
2007-04-02 16:05:20 · answer #5 · answered by gucci_smom 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If we accept Jesus Christ as our savior and die before we get baptized he still goes to heaven. The baptism is that of the Holy Spirit is given to the newly confessed sinner. the baptism of water again is a symbolic event, an outward expression of your faith for all to see. Church starts in your heart. That is the church that Jesus talks about rebuilding in three days. The Holy Spirit is given to every new believer and is considered the spiritual baptism we need to enter heaven.
2007-04-02 16:01:51 · answer #6 · answered by Dennis James 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They sure can sweetheart. Baptism is great,but it is a outward sign of you repenting and choosing to follow God. You if you are a christian can even baptize yourself. The iward baptism to new life is the most important and that is all done by God when you belive that He has accepted Jesus sacrifice for your sin.
2007-04-02 17:46:25 · answer #7 · answered by dispesational7 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus did not say the thief would be in heaven. He said they would see each other in paradise. Not the same thing. If Jesus was baptized to fulfill ALL righteousness, don't you think you should be also.
2007-04-02 16:10:16 · answer #8 · answered by rbarc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't agree with your view. Though baptism is not necessary for salvation, it is the primary means of initiation into the Christian faith. In the early church, there was no such thing as a sinner's prayer. The confession of faith was enacted in baptism. Certain extenuating circumstances do not lend themselves to making baptism possible, like the thief on the cross. Yet these people are still saved, which is evidence that baptism is not necessary for salvation.
2007-04-02 15:59:49 · answer #9 · answered by Seraph 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure they can. What about someone who is in a hospital and someone leads them to Jesus and they receive the Holy Spirit before they die. Just because they didn't get out of the hospital and get baptized doesn't mean they were not saved.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Water baptism is just a ceremony where a person makes a public declaration of their faith and shows their obedience to a command of Christ. It's the baptism of the Spirit that saves a person.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
That quote from Romans 6 by Eds above me is talking about being baptized by the Spirit into Christ not getting a dunking in some water.
Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
2007-04-02 15:58:12 · answer #10 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Remember...Where is CHRIST" He is not dead but alive...once we receive Jesus we receive his baptism...we become joint hires to the King...old things pass away...we are a new in Him...when we truly repent & ask The Father, in CHRIST Jesus Name for forgiveness and recieve Him as our LORD; GOD our Father will hear and forgive and forget our pass sins. CHRIST has already paid our debt with His blood on the cross, and washed us into salvation with the water that gushed from His Body when we repent and invite Him in and be our Holy Sheppard.
2007-04-02 16:20:19 · answer #11 · answered by elshalom930 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋