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The Story of 'The Thief on the Cross' (
Luke 23:39-43
)
Here is a popular excuse that people try to use to show that baptism is not necessary for salvation. They will say, “See, here is an example where someone was told that they would be saved (“….To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43
) without being baptized, because there was no way possible for the thief to be baptized. And he was told that he was going to get to go into paradise anyway.”
In reply to this idea, I would HAVE TO SAY, “You are absolutely right!”
That is what the scripture says. And remember we have already decided that we were going to let the word of God be our sole source of authority (
Study #004
). So, we all have to be honest with ourselves (
Rule #5
), willing to look at what the scripture says (
Rule #1
), and after studying, go by what the scripture teaches (
Rule #6
).
With all of that being said, I will say again, that that IS what the scriptures says, BUT is that what this scripture is teaching?
You are probably thinking, “Well, here we go.”
And once again I would have to say, “You are absolutely right again!”. “ ‘Here we go’, here we go to the scriptures.”
In searching for the truth, I once again want to use a phrase that Jesus used on several different occasions. “Have you not read…?”
So, have you not read what the scriptures say in the story about the man sick of the palsy (
Mark 2:1-12
), where in vs.
10
, Jesus said, “…that ye may KNOW that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins…” ?
That is exactly what happened with the thief on the cross. When Jesus told the thief that today he would be with Him in paradise.
So ONE of the things that the story of the thief on the cross IS teaching is, "that Jesus still has all of His power even while hanging on the cross". Even the power to forgive sins while He was here on Earth. (
Mark 2:10
)
And it was NOT teaching that WE could enter paradise today without being baptized.
[And remember we are going to go by what the scripture teaches (
Rule #6
).]
A couple of side notes:
1. Jesus still had all of His powers while He was on the cross. Including the power to ‘come down from the cross’ if He chose to do so . Which I am sure was a great temptation for Jesus, because remember He had already prayed 3 times asking that He would not have to endure the cross, but was willing to do so, if that is what God wanted Him to do (
Matthew 26:36-44
). This is what the conversation was about that they were having on the cross.
2. Also the time that Jesus was on Earth, was a time of transition. Transition between the Old & the New Testaments (
see Study #003
). So when did this final transition actually take place? At the time of Jesus dying on the cross (
Colossians 2:14
). When He shed His blood and became the perfect final sacrifice. The Old commandments were at that time crucified with Him being spiritually nailed to the cross.
And once again with all of that being said. The thief on the cross WAS saved without being baptized. Because Jesus USED His power to save him.
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What do you think about this lesson ???
Go to the COMMENTS link and enter YOUR COMMENTS
so we can SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH together.
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