Subject: Saved by belief or belief and baptism? |
Bible Note: I see what you are saying. Faith does save us. There are some important things we must remember about the thief on the cross. The thief lived and died under the Old Testament. While Jesus was alive, he could give out salvation in any way he wanted. If you lived in Jesus day, and he asked you to go and sell everything you own and follow him to be saved, that is exactly what would have been required of you. Jesus actually told a man to do this. Today, when a person dies, and if he or she leaves behind a will, that persons belongings have to be dispensed just as that person had set out in their will. Jesus did the same thing. Read Hebrews 9:15-17. Jesus left his last will. He will dispense of his salvation in the way he set out in his will. Look in Mark 16:16. It says that he that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that does not believe shall be condemned. In Matthew 28:19, in what we usually call the Great Commission, Jesus gave the command to teach all nations and to baptize them. In Acts we find many time, that when people believed they were immediatly baptized. Jesus will did not actually come into affect until the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2. The Old Testament continued on until this day. If he was baptized, I can't say, but he would not have to, seeing Jesus was right there beside him. That is a very good question and I hoped I have answered it thoroughly. In Christ, Coty |