The thief on the cross is the exception. Exceptions don’t make the rule.
Firstly, of course we don’t know IF the thief was a fallen disciple who could have been baptized. The Bible is completely silent on this, so we can’t assume either way.
NOTE that the good thief does know Jesus - he knew Jesus had done nothing wrong, that Jesus was Lord, and that Jesus was going to his kingdom after he died (something Jesus made clear only to his disciples—see Matthew 13:10-11). It is possible, then, that the thief on the cross was a fallen-away disciple (cf. Matt. 27:44) who repented on the cross. If so, it’s likely that he would have been baptized.
Furthermore, Jesus teaches us that Baptism incorporates the individual into the Body of Christ, and within the whole life of the Church an individual’s baptism must be accompanied by faith. The developing faith of the individual is empowered by the grace of baptism, and nurtured by the whole Church, but if the Christian faith is rejected or never positively affirmed, the baptism is not magically effective.
There is the baptism of blood and baptism of desire - the baptism of blood refers to those who were not baptised but martyred for Christ. The baptism of desire refers to those individuals with faith in Christ who would be baptized if they had the opportunity and if they truly understood what baptism means. It applies to those who, due to extraordinary circumstances, do not have access to water for baptism. But the New Testament indicates that what we call “baptism of desire” is the case for the Old Testament saints. Noah and his family were “saved through water” in the flood, (2 Pet. 2:5) and the Hebrew children were baptized “into Moses in the cloud and the Red Sea” (1 Cor. 10:2). This suggests that baptism of desire may also extend to those who have pre-Christian faith or to non-Christians who have faith according to the level of their knowledge, but have never heard the Christian gospel.
It may also apply to those who have faith in Christ, but have not been baptized because they truly and sincerely (because of false teaching received in goodwill) do not believe that baptism is necessary. Even in these cases, however, it should be understood that the Church teaches that such individuals “may” be saved, not that they are saved.
LOL....RCs make this argument as it doesn't fit their false theology.
Firstly, of course we don’t know IF the thief was a fallen disciple who could have been baptized. The Bible is completely silent on this, so we can’t assume either way.
Again....more RC speculation in an attempt to justify their false theology.
There is the baptism of blood and baptism of desire - the baptism of blood refers to those who were not baptised but martyred for Christ. The baptism of desire refers to those individuals with faith in Christ who would be baptized if they had the opportunity and if they truly understood what baptism means. It applies to those who, due to extraordinary circumstances, do not have access to water for baptism. But the New Testament indicates that what we call “baptism of desire” is the case for the Old Testament saints. Noah and his family were “saved through water” in the flood, (2 Pet. 2:5) and the Hebrew children were baptized “into Moses in the cloud and the Red Sea” (1 Cor. 10:2). This suggests that baptism of desire may also extend to those who have pre-Christian faith or to non-Christians who have faith according to the level of their knowledge, but have never heard the Christian gospel.
Again, more false theology from the Roman Catholic to justify their false theology.
This suggests that baptism of desire may also extend to those who have pre-Christian faith or to non-Christians who have faith according to the level of their knowledge, but have never heard the Christian gospel.
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From the CCC:
"Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity."
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This suggests the Roman Catholic has departed from the Word.
Non-Christians who have faith according to their knowledge but have never heard the Christian gospel?????
What kind of nonsense is that?
The Bible makes no such allowances as Rome does.
It opens to the door to universalism.
Even in these cases, however, it should be understood that the Church teaches that such individuals “may” be saved, not that they are saved.
Except the Word tells us we can know we are saved....something not advanced by Roman Catholicism.
I tell ya.....Roman Catholicism is a horrible way to live. You never know if you've committed a "mortal" sin....you have zero assurance of anything. No wonder many Roman Catholics have turned to idols such as the scapular or miraculous medal.
Imagine....trusting or appealing to a man-made object because an apparition told them to do so to avoid the hell fire.
It's a complete rejection of the Bible and the forgiveness offered by Christ.