Question #4

But what about the thief on the cross?

One of the thieves on the cross said unto Jesus, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” And Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43.) Since he wasn’t baptized with water did he get to go to heaven? This question has lingered with me for a number of years and I’ve never heard an answer I thought was correct. Thanks for a wonderful web site, I just discovered it today. I intend on being on it as much as possible.

The Answer:

First, thank you for your comments about our web site. Everything possible is done to make it what it ought to be. Foremost among its objectives is striving always to be faithful to “The Book.”

While I know neither your background nor your motivation for asking the question, your question shares a common assumption with those who deny the teaching of Scripture that baptism is essential to salvation. (The common assertion is that “I want to be saved like the thief on the cross.” What they really mean is that they want to be saved without being immersed for the remission of sins according to the teaching of scripture. It is not likely that they want to be crucified as the thief was prior to being saved.) It assumes that the thief was not baptized. (It has several assumptions that could be discussed but which are not vital to your primary question. These will not be addressed.) That assumption may be, but is not necessarily, true. In fact, based upon the Scripture, it is more likely than not that the thief was baptized for the remission of sins than that he was not. Look at the facts.

All Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan were going out to the Jordan to be baptized of John as they confessed their sins. Matt. 3:4-5. There is no indication that the thief was a Pharisee or a lawyer, each of whom rejected the purpose of God by not being baptized of John. Luke 7:30. John’s baptism was both for repentance (Matt. 4:11) and for the remission of sins (Mark. 1:4). In addition, Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (John 3:22-24; 4:1-2).

1. It is more likely than not that the thief was among those who heard either John or Jesus or both. Both John (Matt. 3:1-2) and Jesus (Matt. 4:17) proclaimed the coming kingdom. While no indication is given of the thief’s understanding of the kingdom, his plea to be remembered when Jesus came into His kingdom makes it certain that he had heard of that kingdom.

2. Since the thief was more likely than not among those who heard the preaching of John and/or Jesus, because he knew something of the kingdom that they declared, and because he more likely than not was not among those who rejected God’s purpose by not being baptized of John, isn’t it more likely than not that the thief was at some time prior to crucifixion baptized by John or a disciple of Jesus?

It is not enough, however, to establish that the assumption that the thief on the cross is more likely than not incorrect because both conclusions (that he was or was not baptized) are assumptions. Even if the conclusion that the thief was baptized is based on undisputed Biblical facts, it is still an assumption and is not necessarily so. Thus, whether the thief on the cross was saved without being baptized remains a valid question at which we now look.

While Jesus was upon the earth he had the power to forgive and did forgive sins. Matt. 9:2-6. While Jesus was alive, even on the cross, the Mosaic Code was in effect. It became ineffective after his death. Rom. 7:1-7. Thus, the thief survived the Mosaic Code only briefly (John 19:31-33) and received his forgiveness prior to the death of Jesus and the effectiveness of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15-20).

After the death of Christ and the establishment of His church, all men became subject to the terms of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Lk. 24:46-49; Acts 1:8). The thief never lived under the terms of the great commission because of the time of his death and because the Lord had not yet given them. It is the terms of the great commission that are now relevant. That is what Peter began preaching on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:36-40). There is no record of any other terms of salvation ever being preached in Scripture. Today, as then, those who receive His word will be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, 41) and the Lord will add them to His church as He did about three thousand souls on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41).

Should you desire to learn more about the Lord’s church today, please see the lessons on the church and listen to the sermon on the undenominational nature of the church on this web site.