Was the thief on the cross baptized?
This is a follow-up question regarding "Is baptism necessary for salvation?" The Catholic Church says that baptism is necessary for salvation. To respond to that, we often use the example of the thief on the cross. I recently read about it, and Catholics respond to this argument by "Well, the Bible nowhere says that the thief on the cross was never baptized before". How should we respond to this?
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Asked November 25 2013
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Samuel Bourassa
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
JD Abshire
I am not aware of any place in the Bible where unbelievers were baptized. Baptism always followed true faith.
Acts 8:12 "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."
Acts 8 contains the clearest example and order concerning baptism. After Phillip "preached Jesus" to the Ethiopian eunuch in verse 35, scripture records the sequence.
v. 36 "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?"
v. 37 "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
v.38 "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."
v.39 "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
Acts 18:8 "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized."
1. The Gospel was preached
2. Personal belief and profession of faith
3. Immersion
Similarly, the Bible teaches salvation by grace through faith plus nothing, minus nothing. Then comes the works pleasing to God.
Man's religion teaches that we must be produce works pleasing to God with the hope of obtaining salvation.
"It is a remarkable fact that all the heresies which have arisen in the Christian Church have had a decided tendency to dishonor God and to flatter man.'" Charles H. Spurgeon