What About The Thief on the Cross?

Luke 23:43
    Last week I commented on how the “thief on the cross” is not an accurate example of salvation for today for many reasons, but people use him as an example of being saved without baptism. If you look at the topic objectively, I think there is more evidence to support that he may have been baptized previously. We know that the baptism of John was at one time the valid baptism for salvation (Acts 18:24-19:8; Luke 3:7-22). We also know that the baptism of John was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Like 3:3; Mark 1:4-5).
    First, the thief in question, there were two, recognized who Jesus was. When one thief made a negative reference about Jesus being the Christ and mocked him for it, as if he didn’t believe him, the other rebuked him (Luke 23:39-41). He understood they would all stand before God in judgment. Furthermore, when he addressed Jesus he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42) Where might he learned this information? I would like to remind you that it Mark 1:4-5 it says that John the baptizer was preaching in the wilderness and in all the country of Judea and baptizing people in the Jordan and  Matt. 3 tells us he was teaching in Jerusalem, exactly where these men were. Furthermore, we know from Matt. 3:2 that John’s message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
    The evidence would suggest that this thief who is a pillar for those who teach no need to be baptized was taught by John and it is most likely that he had been baptized into John’s baptism. While this is unimportant to the argument, it is interesting to note.  I love you all!
In His service,
Steven Hugley