Replies

Texicanus: I do remember the thief confessed his sins to Jesus, repented, and accepted Jesus as the true son of GOD.

StormPrepper: You're assuming the thief hadn't already been baptized.

Please note that the malefactor was one of, if not the, last soul saved under the Mosaic/Davidic Covenant, for whom water baptism was not an issue. He was saved by faith alone in Jesus alone, the same way that people are saved under the New Covenant. However, obedience to the command of Christ to be inducted into the Company of The Committed, His Bride, is to submit oneself to the baptismal rite of accepting the role as a disciple under the New Covenant.

That was not a role urged for the malefactor. He is a friend of The Bride.

Sorry, I should have addressed you as well as SyormPrepper in Post #57.

Please note that the malefactor was one of, if not the, last soul saved under the Mosaic/Davidic Covenant, for whom water baptism was not an issue. He was saved by faith alone in Jesus alone, the same way that people are saved under the New Covenant. However, obedience to the command of Christ to be inducted into the Company of The Committed, His Bride, is to submit oneself to the baptismal rite of accepting the role as a disciple under the New Covenant.

I would strongly disagree. Baptism isn't required for salvation. If some accepted Jesus as their savior and died in a car crash before they could be baptized, there is no theological problem with saying that they are saved.

If someone isn't baptized and rejects the idea that they need to be baptized for salvation, then there is a theological problem that is above my pay grade.

The thief on the cross is someone who died before he could be baptized, rather than someone who rejected baptism. There is no theological problem with the thief's salvation without baptism.

Please note that the malefactor was one of, if not the, last soul saved under the Mosaic/Davidic Covenant, for whom water baptism was not an issue.

I respectfully disagree.

Matt 3:
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

The prophet John was teaching the doctrine of Baptism.

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Then Jesus Himself is baptized and says that it fulfills all righteousness. If Jesus had to be baptized how can we claim it is not necessary?

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Heavenly Father then parts the veil and declares His satisfaction with His Son.

The point is that once Jesus changed the law and commanded that all be baptized, which John was doing, there was no way around that commandment. No other way except the way Jesus had given to be on the path that leads to salvation.

That law is still in force and will be in force until the end of the earth. No one can enter into the kingdom of God unless they have been baptized by water unto repentance.