It is common to hear the question – “What about the thief on the cross?” – in a discussion about the necessity of baptism or immersion. Baptism is a transliteration of a Greek word that means immersion, which is also evident from New Testament verses, too (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:4).
Some people assume the penitent thief was never baptized. We do not know whether he was baptized or not. He could have been baptized in John’s baptism when it was still in force. He could have been a disciple of Christ and then turned to sin. Regardless, we do not know if he was baptized or not.
When you consider the discussion that Jesus had with the penitent thief, you learn several things (Luke 23:38-43). Among other things, you learn this man knew some things about Jesus and had changed his view of Jesus. You also learn that he believed in God and in a moral standard (right from wrong). This man confessed his sins and admitted his punishment was just. He said Jesus was innocent of the charges made against Him, which would have included Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God (Mark 14:61-62). This was an expression of faith and an acknowledgment of the truth that Jesus was Who He claimed to be.
The thief was evidently penitent. Everything he said and did seems to indicate that. He, like the apostles, may have neither fully understood the kingdom nor the Lord’s intent and purpose. However, he believed Jesus would yet come in His kingdom and could “remember” him at that time.
A couple of other facts need to be considered in regard to Jesus and the thief. One, Jesus had the authority to forgive sin upon whatever terms He chose (Mark 2:1-12). In this passage, Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic based on the faith of his friends and proved His authority to do so by healing the man. Secondly and most pertinent to the matter, Jesus and the thief lived and died under the Mosaic Law. The new and better covenant of Jesus came into force after the death of Christ (Hebrews 8:6-7; 9:15-17; Colossians 2:14). The Mosaic Law was for the Jews, given by God to His chosen people at Mt. Sinai. After the death of Christ, when He took the Jewish Law “out of the way, nailing it to his cross,” all men – both Jew and Gentile – were then subject to the law of Christ and it alone.
Here’s a final thought regarding the necessity of baptism. Since Jesus said, “He that believeth and is a baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:15-16), then that settles it, regardless of what the thief did or did not do! As to whether the thief was saved with or without baptism, Jesus said he was to be with him in Paradise that day. Paradise is used in the New Testament to refer to the place of the righteous dead (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7).
Paul Clements, a member of the Eastern Meadows Church of Christ, is a retired choral director and retired minister who has also served as an elder in churches where he was located.
