A few questions have been asked How did

A few questions have been asked… • How did the thief on the cross get saved without being baptized? • How did Cornelius get saved before he was baptized with water? • Why did Paul say that the Lord did not send him to baptize but to preach the Gospel?

“How did the thief on the cross get saved without being baptized? ” - Luke 23: 39 -43

The concerns that some have… • • • The thief on the cross was not baptized… But the thief was saved… So therefore, baptism must not really be essential to salvation! – That is what many people conclude. – But is that we should conclude without prayerful study & meditation?

While on Earth; Jesus had the authority to forgive sins… • The man who was paralyzed - Luke 5: 18 -26 • The woman who was a known sinner - Luke 7: 36 -50 • Jesus clearly offered the thief on the cross salvation – Luke 23: 39 -43

The thief was saved before baptism was ever even commanded by Jesus • Jesus commanded baptism after he died Matthew 28: 18 -20; Mark 16: 15 -16 – Baptism into His death - Romans 6: 3 -4 – How could the thief have been baptized into Jesus' death, when Jesus had not yet died?

There was the baptism of John… • Baptism of John - Mark 1: 4 -5 – To prepare people for the coming of Christ – Replaced by the baptism into Christ and His death – Acts 19: 4 -5

The thief on the cross was saved before the new covenant began… • Old Covenant – Between God and the children of Israel – Exodus 19: 4 -8; Deuteronomy 5: 2 -3 – Came to an end when Jesus died on the cross Ephesians 2: 14 -16; Colossians 2: 14

The thief on the cross was saved before the new covenant began… • New Covenant - Hebrews 8: 6 -7 – Of which Jesus spoke when He instituted the Lord's Supper – Mark 14: 22 -24 – Came into effect when Jesus died on the cross Hebrews 9: 15 -17

Therefore, you and I now live under the new covenant. . . • We must submit to Christ's authority as expressed after His death - Matthew 28: 18 -20 • His apostles took the command to baptize others seriously - Acts 2: 38; Acts 10: 48

The thief's example is not applicable to the question of baptism. . . • He died before Jesus declared the command to be baptized into His death. • The thief lived under the old covenant, which did not require baptism into Christ! • The example would be applicable if. . . – You lived before the command to be baptized into Christ was given – You lived under the old covenant

• “having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” Hebrews 5: 9 • Which one of Jesus’ commands do you want to omit and say are not necessary?