Had the man on the cross next to Jesus been Baptized?
From what I’ve read, Jesus didn’t care so much for all the legalisms.
And for what it’s worth, I have been baptized.
No. Come on, does this one special case where a man who was condemned to death; and prior to the penalty of the cross, and who never heard nor believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, can we now legitimately make a major case for water baptism for this individual. Should all of history stop for a brief moment to let this prisoner down to get water baptized and then continue his penalty on the Roman cross!
Regarding legalism of the Pharisees and Sadducees:
Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Unfortunately, that is where legalism take anyone who continues in practicing legalism, then and now...
Today, we are saved by Grace, not by works of the Law.
My God is not a petty God.
I believe I am agreeing with you on most everything.
**Had the man on the cross next to Jesus been Baptized?**
Jesus was still alive, and the Law still observed: “For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator LIVETH.” Hebrews 9:17
**From what I’ve read, Jesus didn’t care so much for all the legalisms.**
He didn’t care for MAN made, self righteous laws added to the laws of God. After healing a leper, Jesus commanded: “See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyelf to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” Mark 1:44
**And for what it’s worth, I have been baptized.**
OK, was it the scriptural, New Testament way, as found in Acts 2:38?
The page that says ‘New Testament’ in your Bible is placed in the location where the Hebrew text ends, and the Greek begins. Notice that Jesus only met with those closest to him before ascending to heaven, and in his last meeting with them told them to tarry in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father (the Holy Ghost). Some days later came the outpouring of the Holy Ghost (the ‘new and living way’).
So, ‘New Testament’ really takes full effect beginning with the book of Acts.
Perhaps he had been baptized. Perhaps John Baptist had baptized him, and perhaps he had stood in the water with John and confessed the sin and offense against the law for which he was later condemned and crucified.
Or, perhaps the man had not actually committed any offense other than one of a political nature against the Roman Empire. I say this with full realization that the Scripture does label him a "malefactor." We do not know the nature of the offense, or against whom, that put him on a cross.
What we do know is that he recognized the King-ship of Christ and that Christ would come in a Kingdom. He had prior knowledge of what Messiahship meant, and just Who was the Messiah.
We know that the man was not baptized in water between his dying confession of Christ and his bodily death. The Bible does not tell us whether he had ever been baptized in water.