Many people look to the thief on the cross next to Jesus as an example of how to be saved today. Is this reasonable in light of scripture? Can I be saved like the thief on the cross?
We don’t know a lot about this man who joined Jesus in paradise on the day of His crucifixion (Luke 23:43). Jesus obviously forgave the thief’s sins but unanswerable questions abound. Had he believed in Jesus before this interaction? Was he present at any of the miracles Jesus performed? Was he previously baptized by John or one of Jesus’ disciples (John 1:28; 4:1-2)? We simply cannot know.
One thing I can be certain about is the dispensation the thief lived in. When Jesus walked the earth He lived under the Mosaic law. The thief grew up and lived under the same law. This was a law given to the Jews only and created a separation between Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:13-16). This ended at the death on the cross (Col. 2:14). Most people tacitly understand that we do not live under this law any more because they do not travel to Jerusalem for feast days, offer animal sacrifices, or worship through the priesthood. I cannot be saved like the thief on the cross because it would be comparing apples and oranges. He lived and died under a different l aw.
During Jesus’s earthly ministry he forgave sins frequently (Mark 2:5; Luke 23:43). He had every right to do this because of His deity (Mark 2:7, 10). Only He can forgive sins, but He has ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:9-11). How can we know who is forgiven of their sins today? While a man is alive on earth he can give his money to anyone or any cause he wishes. However after death a man’s money can only be given according to the terms of his last will and testament (Heb. 9:11-17; 10:1-5). I can’t be saved like the thief on the cross because Christ’s last will and testament is now in effect.
Jesus left his apostles to teach how one could be forgiven of sins. Peter taught that you must repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21). Philip preached to and baptized people in Samaria and later the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:12, 27-39). Saul of Tarsus was baptized for the washing away of his sins (Acts 9:18; Acts 22:16). The Philippian jailor and his household were baptized (Acts 16). Under the New Testament, which was enacted at Jesus’ death, the baptism of a penitent believer is essential to salvation.
Romans 6:3-4 teaches that we are baptized into Christ’s death. I cannot be resurrected like Christ unless I have been baptized (Rom. 6:5). Baptism is not a work claiming to earn salvation, it is the operation of God (Col. 2:1213). The thief could not be baptized into Christ’s death because he died before Jesus. After Christ died He stated, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mark 16:15-16). His New Testament was at that time in full effect.
-Ross Haffner