I was looking something else up, and came across a comment that made me stand still . . . So I am going to put this out to all of you who do apologetic work for critique and thoughts . . I am tired, so if I missed something obvious, please don't hesitate to point it out . ..
The good thief, to whom, from the cross, while still alive(this is important) Jesus tells him that today he will be with Him in paradise . . .
The argument is that the good thief wasn't baptized, and he was saved, so obviously baptism is not necessary . .
There is something here that I had always missed when defending against this argument, and it is this . . .
JESUS HAD NOT YET DIED!
When we are baptized, we are baptized INTO HIS DEATH . . .
Since Jesus had not yet died, one could not be baptized into His death yet . . .
So the good thief was not saved under the New Covenant, which had not yet started, as Jesus had not yet died . . . So, the rationale would be that the good thief did not need baptism, since he was saved by faith in Christ before the New Covenant started . .
OK . . .critique away!
Peace in Him!
The good thief, to whom, from the cross, while still alive(this is important) Jesus tells him that today he will be with Him in paradise . . .
The argument is that the good thief wasn't baptized, and he was saved, so obviously baptism is not necessary . .
There is something here that I had always missed when defending against this argument, and it is this . . .
JESUS HAD NOT YET DIED!
When we are baptized, we are baptized INTO HIS DEATH . . .
Since Jesus had not yet died, one could not be baptized into His death yet . . .
So the good thief was not saved under the New Covenant, which had not yet started, as Jesus had not yet died . . . So, the rationale would be that the good thief did not need baptism, since he was saved by faith in Christ before the New Covenant started . .
OK . . .critique away!
Peace in Him!