#317   WHAT ABOUT THE THIEF ON THE CROSS?

Luke 23:43 says, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." This is Jesus’ statement to one of the criminals crucified with him.  In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the word "paradise" is used to describe the garden of Eden, Genesis 2:8,10,15.  The word means "a garden of delight." Paul refers to being "caught up to the third heaven" and in the same connection mentions being caught up into paradise, H Corinthians 12:1-4.  The word "paradise" was also used to designate the place of happiness and peace in Hades where the souls of the righteous go following death and preceding the resurrection, Acts 2:25-32.  In this same connection read also John 20:17.

Jesus was, therefore apparently promising salvation to this person who had been a criminal.  This promise was Jesus' response to the man's recognition of the innocence of Jesus and for his faith.  The man had said "This man (meaning Christ) hath done nothing amiss".  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom."(Luke 23:41-42) But why did Jesus deal with the Thief on the cross in this way and yet still require those of us living in the Christian Age to be baptized in order to be saved.  In order to understand the teachings of the Bible on this subject we must first realize that Jesus had the power on earth to forgive sins, Matthew 9:6.  Jesus could forgive sin by merely speaking the word, Matthew 9:2.  But when Jesus died on the cross, his new covenant, sealed by his blood, went into effect.  There had to be the death of the testator who made the will or testament before the will could go into effect, Hebrew 9:15-17.  It was not until after Christ's death that he said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  "(Matthew 28:19) The thief on the cross lived and died before the commands were given and was therefore not subject to their requirements.

If man would be saved from his sins today however he must believe in Christ, repent of his sins, confess his faith in Christ, and be baptized for remissions of sins.  Mark 16:16 says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Acts 2:38 says, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." We also read in Matthew 10:32-33 that we must confess our faith in Christ before men.  Again in Acts 22:16 the Bible says, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

God will faithfully keep his promise and save those who do these things.  We must then, as Christians, observe all things which Christ has commanded, Matthew 28:20.  In this age, then, it would be just as logical and reasonable to argue that it is not necessary to partake of the Lord's supper, not to support the preaching of the gospel, nor to sing, nor to give, as it is to reason that a person is not required to be baptized because of the thief on the cross.  Although the Bible does not mention that the thief did any of these things, they are all required of those of us now living in the Christian Age.  The thief on the cross was never a source of contention among New Testament Christians of the first century and out of all the multiplied thousands whose obedience to the gospel is recorded in the New Testament, not a single one ever asked, "What about the thief on the cross?"