Articles
Why Rush to Be Baptized? / Was Saul of Tarsus Saved Like the Thief on the Cross?
Why Rush to Be Baptized?
Bryan Garlock
Many churches schedule special services where one must wait one to two weeks to be baptized, if not longer, after making known his or her decision to follow Jesus. Ultimately, this is because many do not understand the importance of baptism. Furthermore, those waiting to be baptized believe wholeheartedly that they have already been saved. Hence, there is “justification” for the postponement of baptism.
It should be admitted by all that the Scriptures teach that baptism was done immediately after the preaching of the gospel. Luke recorded, “That same day” (Acts 2.36-41), “What hinders me from being baptized?” (Acts 8.35-38), “Can any man forbid water?” (Acts 10.44-48), “In the same hour of the night” (Acts 16.30-33), “On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19.5) and “Why are you waiting?” (Acts 22.16). Every example found within the pages of Acts tells and shows us that baptism was not delayed.
Those who heard (Rom. 10.17; Acts 2.37), believed (Acts 16.31), repented of their sins (Acts 2.38), and confessed their faith in Christ (Rom. 10.9-10), were immediately baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2.38).
Why the rush to be baptized? Baptism stood between them and being saved (1 Peter 3.21), forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2.38; Acts 22.16), having a new life (Rom. 6.4), being in Christ (Gal. 3.27), becoming a child of God (Gal. 3.26-27) and being in the kingdom (John 3.5).
Those who teach that baptism does not save see no reason why one must be immediately baptized. This is the reasoning behind their postponement to be baptized. This writer is unaware of any command of Jesus that one may postpone for another time or even indefinitely and yet most of the religious world believes that the command to be baptized is an exception to the rule!
Interestingly, the Holy Spirit gave us an example of a man who was baptized after midnight (Acts 16.25-34, note verses 25 and 33)! This raises some questions: “If baptism is not essential to salvation, why was he baptized the same hour of the night and not later?” and “For what purpose did they choose to find water at that time of the night?” If one was to be honest with the text they would admit there’s only one reason – this man knew what stood between him and salvation – baptism. BG
Was Saul of Tarsus Saved Like the Thief on the Cross?
Though the Bible teaches that baptism is essential to salvation (Acts 2.38; 1 Peter 3.21), it is often argued that since the thief on the cross did not have to be baptized to be saved, that no one has to be baptized to be saved. First, this assumes that the thief was not baptized, though there are passages that assume otherwise (Matt. 3.5-6), and second, this denies Jesus’ power to forgive sins while on earth (Matt. 9.6). While there are many more points we could examine, simply put, Jesus had the authority to forgive the thief on little or no conditions and regardless of whether he was baptized.
Those who believe that baptism does not save and appeal to the thief on the cross as a case of conversion without baptism, claim that Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul the apostle, was saved exactly like the thief, upon faith and without baptism.
Let us examine the facts. First, Saul heard commandments that the thief never heard. For example, Saul heard the commands of the great commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28.19-20, ESV) and elsewhere, “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10.9, ESV). Surely Saul obeyed His own writings (Romans) and yet he taught that one must believe in his heart the risen Lord! How can Saul be saved like the thief if he had to obey the commands of the great commission (confession of a risen Lord and baptism), commands the thief never heard? Second, the very fact that Saul was commanded to “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22.16), demands his obedience and everyone’s obedience who is commanded thereof. Finally, if Saul was saved by faith alone and apart from obedience, what past sins did he need to wash away?
Therefore, while it is true that both the thief and Saul were saved by faith, their faith was manifested in different ways, especially since Saul heard the gospel of Jesus whereas the thief did not.
Since all have been commanded to be baptized (Acts 2.38; 10.48, etc.), all are required to obey! Therefore, it is not just a matter of whether Saul was saved like the thief; in fact, none living today can be saved like the thief! BG
