“What about the thief on the cross in Luke 23:40-43? Wasn’t he saved without baptism?” Jesus forgave the thief who could offer nothing in return. How well this defines and displays grace! But is the thief an example about baptism? To assume the thief had never been baptized may not be safe, in view of Luke 3:21; 7:29. However, rather than guessing, why not stay with what is known? We know that we are subject to Christian baptism as launched by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). We know its purpose as shown in Mark 16:16 and Acts 22:16. We also know that the thief came before the Great Commission with its baptism. The thief could not have faith to be baptized into Christ’s death for this simple reason: Christ had not yet died. The thief could not be “raised with Christ through faith” because Christ had not yet risen. For the thief, the Gospel event had not yet been completed. Now it is complete! Now God reveals that we all—”every one of you”—must repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). This is how “all” believers come “into Christ” to share in the Gospel Event (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:12).
“Isn’t baptism just a symbol, not a real necessity?” Modern people often speak that way, but not the New Testament. While immersion is like burial, Scripture’s emphasis is on God’s working in immersion. Take the case of Saul, later called Paul. As an apostle, he champions salvation by grace through faith (Romans 5:1-2). Yet he plainly shows that baptism shares in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:1-4). Also, as Paul recounts his own conversion, notice the pivotal purpose for his baptism. Comparing Acts 9, Acts 22 and Acts 26, you can trace the timeline of events in Paul’s conversion. Paul hounds and hurts Christians. Then he meets the risen Jesus, and calls Him “Lord.” Saul asks Jesus what to do. Jesus answers, “Rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do” (Acts 9:6). Saul (still blinded after seeing Jesus’ light) fasts and prays while waiting three days in Damascus. He receives a vision from God about a coming visitor, Ananias. Jesus’ messenger Ananias arrives, restores Saul’s sight, and tells about Saul’s future mission for Jesus. Saul then receives baptism. He joins Jesus’ followers and preaches that Jesus is God’s Son.
When were Saul’s sins washed away? When he saw Jesus? When he recognized Jesus as Lord? When he prayed and fasted so earnestly? When God sent him a vision, or healed him miraculously? When Saul received baptism? If Saul’s sins were removed before baptism, then baptism might be merely symbolic. When was he saved? Think about it. Then read Saul’s own account:
[To Saul, Ananias] said, “The God of our fathers appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from His mouth; for you will be a witness for Him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name“ (Acts 22:14-16).
Until Acts 22:16, Saul’s sins—pride, murder and more—still made Him morally filthy. His sins still needed to be washed away. Saul already had been calling, in the sense of praying. But there is a special “calling on His name” that takes place in baptism (like 1 Peter 3:21). This is the calling on, and the sharing in, Christ’s death to “wash away your sins.” As Paul himself testifies, baptism enters that saving death in order to share resurrected life with Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12).
Now, Saul is an example for us, both of grace and of baptism into the Gospel Event. Jesus took a stubborn sinner and turned him into a new person. Why? Love, mercy and grace… and to convince us also!
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life (1 Timothy 1:15-16).