A few weeks ago my fellow blogger, MJ, wrote an article entitled “Is Baptism Required for Salvation?” Her article prompted me to write this article, which is what I call an “alternate look” at the subject matter. I certainly do not want to attack anything MJ wrote, but rather present a different view on a hotly discussed issue. I know that for me personally, it is when discussions such as this one come up that I have some of my deepest Bible study. I initially wrote this article as one installment; however, it became very lengthy, therefore I have separated it into two parts. I hope and encourage us all to thoroughly study the Bible for answers to all questions such as this one: Is baptism required for salvation?
If you read my article “God’s Plan for Salvation”, (and even if you haven’t) you probably know how I feel on the matter of baptism. I want to start the discussion by being upfront with you: I do believe that the Bible teaches that baptism is required for salvation. I hope that you continue to read this article even though I have already stated where I stand. I want to present you with what the Bible has to say about the subject of baptism, and not merely my opinion on baptism. I think it is very important to look at what the Bible says in all matters.
I would first like to look at the matter of the thief on the cross. Undoubtedly, if you talk to someone who believes that baptism is not required for salvation they will look to the thief on the cross. There are a couple of things which I think need to be considered when looking at the thief on the cross. First, the thief on the cross died under the Old Law, not under the New Law. The Old Law was abolished with Christ’s death on the cross (Colossians 2:14-16; Ephesians 2:14-16; Hebrews 9:15-17ff). Secondly, couldn’t the thief have been baptized into John’s baptism? Consider Mark 1:4-5: “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” It is possible that the thief was one of those who was baptized with John’s baptism. Thirdly, when one is baptized, they are baptized into the death of Christ as Romans 6:3 states: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” How could the thief on the cross be baptized into Christ’s death if He had yet to die? Finally, the thief was directly talking to the Savior of the world. Christ could (and did) choose to save the thief by His Words, a situation which does not exist in today’s world.
Read Part 2 of “Is Baptism Required for Salvation? An Alternate Look”
All Scripture references are taken from the ESV.