How many events did it take to fully Institute baptism?

Question

I've heard that the thief on the cross may have been under the Mosaic law when Christ bypassed the rite of baptism and told him that "this day you will be with me in paradise."

This would make John's baptism ineffective; Jesus' own baptism ineffective; his death, and possibly even his resurrection ineffective, right up until the great commission. That's five events in order to fully institute baptism. Your count?

Answer 1

People who believe in salvation by "faith only" often claim that the thief on the cross proves that baptism is not necessary to receive the forgiveness of sins. Was the thief saved under the gospel of Jesus Christ? Does the Bible teach that people today can be forgiven by faith alone without being baptized?

Luke 23:39-43 - While Jesus was dying, there was a conversation with the two thieves who were dying with Him. One ridiculed Him. The other defended Jesus and recognized Jesus was innocent. Jesus promised this one would be in Paradise(purgatory) that day.

This saying of Jesus has become a center of controversy. Many folks believe they are saved today by "faith only" and baptism is not essential to being forgiven of sins. When the subject is discussed, these folks often argue that the thief was saved without being baptized and this example shows people today can do the same.

Consider Jesus' statement about the thief. Does it mean we can be saved by faith alone without baptism?

Multitudes had been baptized by John the Baptist and by Jesus' disciples (Matt. 3:5,6; John 4:1,2). It is entirely possible that the thief was baptized and then later fell into sin. In this case, he would be an erring child of God not in need of baptism like an alien sinner. We cannot argue this is a case of salvation without baptism unless we know the person was not baptized.


The thief is also not an example of salvation by faith under the gospel.
Those who argue for salvation by "faith only" cannot use the thief to defend their position either, for he did not have the kind of faith that is required for salvation today.

Romans 10:9 - that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

To be saved according to the gospel we must believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead. The thief on the cross could not possibly believe that, since Jesus had not died let alone been raised.

Many Scriptures clearly teach that baptism is essential to receive forgiveness under the gospel.
Mark 16:16 - He who believes and is baptized will be saved.

Acts 2:38 - Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.

Acts 22:16 - Be baptized and wash away your sins.

Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27 - We are baptized into Christ, into His death. We have newness of life after we have been baptized (John 3:3,5).

I Pet. 3:21 - Baptism now saves us.



God's word does not contradict itself. It clearly teaches baptism is essential to receive remission. Therefore, the thief cannot prove people ARE saved without baptism for that would contradict other Scriptures. So there must be some other explanation for the case of the thief.



The thief was saved while the Old Testament was still in effect. He is not an example of salvation under the gospel at all.
The truth is that the thief was saved under a different law and dispensation than we are under. That is why it does not matter whether or not he believed what we must believe, and for the same reason it does not matter whether or not he was baptized. How he was saved is irrelevant to how we are saved.

Col. 2:14 - Jesus removed the first ordinances nailing them to His cross. Until Jesus died, the Jews lived under the laws given at Mt. Sinai through Moses. When He died, those laws ceased to be in effect.

Eph. 2:13-16 - He abolished the old law through His blood shed on the cross (v13,16).

Heb. 10:9,10; 9:16,17 - Jesus removed the first testament and replaced it with His new covenant the gospel. It is under this new testament that we are saved by Jesus' death. As with any will or testament, Jesus had to die to bring His testament into force. The old law was in effect until Jesus died, then it was replaced by the New Covenant. [. Gal. 3:13; Rom. 7:4]

But the thief was forgiven before Jesus died and therefore while the first covenant was in effect. The conditions he had to meet to be forgiven prove nothing about the conditions under which we are forgiven. He proves no more about how we should be saved than does David, Moses, Noah, or Abraham. They did not have to believe what we do nor did they have to be baptized because they did not live under the same law we do.

While Jesus was on earth, He had the power to forgive people directly as He chose. After His death, people can be saved only according to the terms of His will.
During His life, Jesus directly spoke the forgiveness of several people (Mark 2:5-12; Luke 7:48,49; cf. John 8:1-11). Apparently the thief is another such case. But the conditions under which He forgave people then are not the terms of the gospel since, as shown above, it was not yet in effect.

During his lifetime, a man may distribute his possessions to anyone he wishes in any way he wishes. But after his death, no one has any right to receive anything from the man except according to the terms of his will or testament. The will does not come into effect till He dies.

So Jesus directly forgave people during His lifetime (apparently according to His ability to read their hearts and observe their lives). The gospel came into effect after He died, and people today receive forgiveness only by complying with its terms. Those terms require baptism, as well as faith, as per verses already listed.

Jesus is the Lord and Savior. Only He has the right to announce the terms under which He will forgive men. If we seek His forgiveness, it must be according to the conditions He has revealed.

Answer 2

Well the thief on the cross did not exactly had a chance for things like baptism He extended his faith and that s why Jesus said those words to him.

The Word of God says in Acts 2:38 "Repent and baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sin.

If you believe with your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, you will be saved.

Jesus had to be baptized on earth for He is the example of things to come.

Jesus took our place on the cross to buy us back with His blood, he became the perfect sacrificial lamb.

Salvation is made up in a package - repent (turn around) and be baptized.

The foundation of our faith is the super natural birth of Christ, the death and resurrection of Christ. Without this foundation there is no Christianity.

Answer 3

baptism does not save.

John 3:16 no baptism there

I Jn 5:12 not there

scriptures that point to Christ for salvation leave out baptism because it is not part of it.

Baptism is a picture of Jesus death burial and ressurection.

How about a guy in a car crash. Dying asks you how to get to heaven. You gonna drag him to a lake?

NO WAY you will tell him about Jesus.

Answer 4

Acts 2: 38-41 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised1 every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. " v.39 "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. " v.40 "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. " v.41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. "

P.S. I fully agree with the answer above me.

Answer 5

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change.
Yes, all should come to repentance and be baptised, however, if Jesus decides to waive the rule, like He personally did with the thief on the cross, then you don't have to. For the rest of us, if we are obedient, we have to because Jesus said we should and even He was.

The next time you are hanging on a cross next to Jesus, if He says you don't have to be baptised, you don't.

Answer 6

baptism is a work, not necessary for salvation.