Bible Question:
Greetings, Raven I just have one question on the "need" for water baptism in the context of salvation: When was the thief on the cross baptized? The one Jesus told would be with Him in Paradise? I eagerly await your answer. 2nd Samuel 22 |
Bible Answer: Jesus gave the command that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24 46Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise[8] from the dead the third day, 47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Jesus also commanded baptism. Matthew 28 18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore[1] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. These things were to happen post resurrection, for He told them to go into Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. Luke 24 49Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem[9] until you are endued with power from on high." The thief on the the cross was in the Mosaic age and under the Mosaic Law. Luke 23 39Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ,[10] save Yourself and us." 40But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." 42Then he said to Jesus, "Lord,[11] remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Jesus did for him as He did for all the others who believed on Him during His ministry. He new the man had repented so He forgave him. Baptism is used as a means to come in contact with the cleansing power of the the blood of Christ. But since there had been no death, burial and ressurection baptism was not necessary. Even John's baptism was not a saving baptism. It was only a baptism of repentance only. Why does it show the following example if this is not so. Acts 19 1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. I hope this has helped with your question? Raven |