Thief On The Cross

Often we hear that the thief on the cross was saved without being baptized, thus it must have been "faith Only". Actually we don't know if he was baptized in John's baptism, but that doesn't matter for this discussion, was he saved by faith only, just through mental acceptance? No, he did some things.

Though no one can prove if he was baptized or not is impossible to say. It seems likely he was.

Mar 1:5  And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

If from Judea he likely was baptized. Baptists say a true believer wouldn't steal after baptism, but that is a judgmental and graceless theology. We all have sinned after conversion. Including the evangelicals.

1. He had faith in a coming savior and his kingdom before the cross, he asked Jesus to remember him in his kingdom. So he had faith before the cross. He had been taught about it.

2. He asked Jesus, asking is a work you could say. Asking, seeking, knocking are all things we must do.

3. Jesus made the pronouncement after he glorified Jesus and asked.

Thus, he had some faith before going to the cross, but wasn't pronounced saved.

He met the requirements of John's baptism when believing on Christ.

We can see it wasn't faith only. It wasn't at the moment of faith. He had faith before going to the cross and wasn't forgiven yet.

On the other question of him being baptized in John's baptism, baptists and even mainstream evangelicals have contended for years that a baptized person would never be a thief. Even Max Lucado who has promoted grace for so long said so, he contended baptized people don't sin like that after being baptized. He also said that a thief would not be religious, but we know the thief was somewhat religious because he was instructed in the kingdom.

We all sin after being baptized, Peter denied Christ after John's baptism.

He also said thieves aren't the type of people who get baptized. Talk about an anti-grace doctrine. Max Lucado is one of Anti-grace, despite his claims.

Mat 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.

Mat 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

Sinners can believe a messenger from God and obey.

Peter denied being with Christ after being baptized by John. etc

I wonder what sins the evangelicals have committed since their baptisms? 

The apostle John wrote, "if you confess your sins he is faithful and just to forgive"

The thief confessed he was a sinner on the cross. He met the requirement that we all have after being saved.

The thief is actually a bad example for "faith Only" theology.

He had been taught about Messiah and the kingdom previously.

He believed the kingdom promise

He met the requirements of John's baptism (believe on him who was to come)

He confessed his sin

He asked Jesus to save him

Not faith only by any means.