The
Thief On The
Cross
What about the thief on the cross?
By Kevin Cauley
Regarding
this common “argument” that one can be saved without baptism because the
thief on the cross was saved, here are six responses:
1. One does not know that the thief was not baptized
under John’s baptism.
It would
be impossible to prove one way or the other that the thief on the cross was
baptized.
In fact,
there is more evidence that he was baptized than that he was not baptized.
2. Jesus had
power to personally forgive sins on earth (Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10,Luke 5:24).
While
Jesus was on the earth, he had authority to forgive whomsoever He willed.
Today,
however, forgiveness is based upon our relationship to Christ through
His covenant.
3. The thief showed faith in Christ when most of
the world was reviling Him.
The fact
that the thief knew who Jesus was shows something regarding the thief’s
knowledge.
It means
that the thief had heard someone teach regarding Jesus.
4. The thief recognized the true nature of the
kingdom putting faith in Christ that he was going to come into it despite
Jesus' present circumstance of hanging on the cross.
The thief told Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom (Luke 23:42).
The fact
that the thief knew something about the kingdom of Jesus also attests to the
thief’s knowledge.
Somewhere someone had told him about the coming kingdom and someone had
told him that this kingdom belonged to Jesus.
The thief had heard and believed the preaching of the gospel.
5. Jesus had
not yet died, and so the New Covenant had not come into effect (Hebrews 9:16).
Everyone
that lives today is under the authority of the New Covenant, not the Old.
Since
that is the case, the thief could not have been forgiven under the terms of the
New Covenant, but the Old.
I would
have just as much authority to build an ark in order to be saved as I would to
appeal to the thief on the cross.
Those
things happened under a different covenant and hence are not applicable to my
circumstances today under the New Covenant of Christ.
6. The terms of the New Covenant
had not yet been given.
Jesus told Peter that he would give him the keys to the kingdom in
Matthew 16:18-19.
Those
keys had not yet been given at the time of Jesus’ death. Those keys were
finally given in Acts 2.
It was not
until those terms were given that one could know what to do to have forgiveness
of sins under the New Covenant.
The thief
could not have known what those terms were, but today, we can.
Can a
person be saved in exactly the same way that the thief on the cross was saved? No.
Today we
must be saved under the authority of the New Covenant and under the terms of
that covenant.
Today that is accomplished through submission to
God’s command through the apostles to be baptized, for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
The thief
on the cross is a great example of forgiveness.
It shows
us that it is never too late to come to the Lord in this life.
However,
the thief on the cross is not an example of what one must do to be saved today
as his salvation was based upon a different covenant, different circumstances,
and a different relationship to Jesus.
The new covenant transforms us into servants who gladly and willingly
obey Christ in all things.
Christ, our guarantor, works in our hearts and will remove the presence
of sin from us just as He has already eliminated its penalty.
In this life, we will live in ever greater obedience to Christ.
When He returns, we will be finally and completely conformed to His
glorious image.
“Just as we have borne the image of the man of
dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:49 (ESV)
God has sworn that this covenant will never be superseded. There is
nothing that will ever make Him change that.
Why not reflect on your status as being covered by the new covenant?
Remember that you live in a better period than any of the old
covenant saints.
Perhaps, you have considered to partake of the new and living way being
offered to you.
Settle that sin issue now by calling on God.
He has promised that anyone who calls on Him shall be saved. Open your heart and say this prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins
have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my
past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You. I would like to receive
Your free gift of salvation.
Please
forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I
want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your
Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the
name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans
10:13).
I
believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and
no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord
Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I
thank You that you have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word I am
born again and I am now a child of God.
Heavenly
Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I promise
to study Your Word – the Bible.
I
surrender my life to You. Use me for Your glory.
In
Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
If
you have just put your trust in Jesus Christ, you have been born into God’s
family.
As a spiritual baby, you need to grow by
feeding on God’s Word – the Bible (1 Peter 2:2).
You
must have a good modern translation Bible and begin prayerfully reading it. Start
in the New Testament, such as the Gospel of John or Paul’s letters to the
Ephesians.
As you read, ask two questions: “What are You, Lord?” “What do You want me to do?”
Also,
you need to join a Christian fellowship where the Bible is taught and where God
is truly worshiped.
God
bless you as you begin your new life with Him!
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