Where In The Bible Will I Find:

The Thief On The Cross, A Model Case Of Conversion?

Since many of our friends among various religious groups ignore the clear teaching of the great commission. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16), and since they fail to see the book of Acts as a casebook of conversions (Acts 2:38; 8:36-39; 22:16), and since they continue to use the thief on the cross as a model case of conversion, we cannot but suppose they are unknowing of several clear facts which clearly refute their position.

We pray it is not such a voluntary ignorance that they cannot be reached by Biblical truth. On the cross, Jesus is giving His life for the world, the people rail at Him and so do both thieves (Matt. 27:44). However, one thief changes and confesses Him. Jesus promises that the penitent thief will that day be with Him in Paradise. Jesus dies and then the thief dies. The argument goes that since the thief was saved without water baptism, we can be saved today without water baptism. Thus, the doctrine of salvation by "faith alone."

It has not and cannot ever be proven that the thief was not baptized. It is unwise to rest one's salvation on the guess, or the baseless assumption that he was not baptized. Thieves were baptized (I Cor. 6:9-11). They would be the type people who would need baptism for the remission of sins as much as anyone else (Acts 2:38; 22:16). All in Judea and all Jerusalem were baptized by John the immerser (Mark 1:5), and Jesus baptized more than John did (John 4:1-2). It is likely that these former thieves were among them, especially since they heard preaching on the kingdom (Luke 23:42).

If the thief somehow had not been baptized (though we need water baptism to be saved, Mark 16:16), he did not. When he received the promise of paradise, which would include remission of sins, he was living under Judaism, not Christianity. Judaism did not require water baptism. Thus any Jew at that time would not need water baptism.

Everyone today is under a different covenant than that in force when Jesus made the promise to the thief. We are under Christianity, which requires water baptism (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). The Old Law was in effect when Jesus' promise to the thief was made but it has since passed away (Col. 2:14; Heb. 7:18-19; 9:16-17; 10:9; II Cor. 3:14). While Jesus was on earth He had the power to forgive sins (Mark 2:10).

While alive, one may dispense his possessions as he will. When dead, they are disposed by his last will and testament. At the death of Jesus His will and testament became effective, and His will and testament requires water baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16). Therefore, God has not made the thief a model case of conversion. Christ's will requires Belief (Heb. 11:6). Repentance (Acts 17:30). Confession (Rom. 10:9-10). And then water Baptism which will put one INTO Christ (Gal. 3:27).