The Thief on the Cross

“Baptism doesn’t save because the thief on the cross was not baptized!”

This argument is commonly raised by those who deny the saving power of baptism. The claim that “baptism saves” seems to be in conflict with Jesus’ promise of salvation to the dying thief, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” (Lk 23:43)

Before addressing the question head-on, it’s worth pointing out that the thief could very possibly have been baptized after all. Mark 1:3 records that “all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to [John] and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” At the very least, we must concede that the thief could have been baptized by John as part of the “all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem.”

Where Scripture plainly tells us that baptism saves (see Mark 16:16, Titus 3:5–7, 1 Peter 3:21), we can only make deductions about the thief’s baptism. And how can we use a deduction or an argument from silence to overturn the clear promises of Scripture?

But let’s get to the main point. What does baptism do? Why does it save? It saves precisely because it connects us to Jesus and His cross, burial, and resurrection. This is what St. Paul writes in Romans, Chapter 6:

“Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Think of it this way: Jesus has all the forgiveness that you need at the cross. But you weren’t there. So how do you get that forgiveness? Should you go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to look for a splinter of the true cross? No. That would end only in frustration and uncertainty. Instead of us going to look for Jesus, He comes to us with His forgiveness though baptism. Baptism is one of the chief delivery mechanisms (means of grace) that God has appointed for salvation.

Baptism is like the power cord that plugs you into Jesus and all the saving benefits of the cross. It joins you to Jesus, the source of all forgiveness and life. And when you are connected to Jesus, you get everything that He has to give you—everything that He purchased for you with His blood.

So when Scripture says that “baptism now saves you,” it is not promoting an alternate method of salvation, in addition to Jesus and His saving work. Baptism saves because it connects you to Jesus and His saving work.

Finally, let’s go back to the thief on the cross. For the sake of argument, let’s concede that he was not baptized. Can you think of any reason why baptism was not necessary for him? Remember, baptism joins repentant sinners to Jesus and His cross. But the repentant thief doesn’t need to be connected to Jesus—he’s already there, literally, nailed next to Him! And Jesus promised him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

How amazing it would have been to have heard those words! It could even make you just a bit jealous of the repentant thief. But you need not be, because Jesus has spoken a similar promise to you, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”

In the history of the world, only one Christian received the promise of eternal life while physically hanging on a cross next to Jesus. But for every other Christian since, Jesus delivers that same promise along with the same certainty of salvation through baptism. The thief on the cross does not disprove the saving power of baptism. Rather, he shows us what we too can expect to receive by being joined to Christ.