It is a favorite line that finds its way into many a conversation about salvation. “What about the thief on the cross?” I once heard a slight, yet strangely refreshing variation, “what about the crook on the cross?” And even when we were handing out literature in Jamaica, one of the shopkeepers kept arguing the case of the “‘teef on the cross.” Different terms, same argument.

Well, what about the thief on the cross? Why is he given so much attention by our religious friends? As Isaiah predicted, Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12), crucified between “two robbers” (Mark 15:27). But these two men who were alike in life were separated in death. Only one of them said to Jesus, “remember me when You come in Your kingdom,” to which the Lord replied, “truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Does that prove that a man is saved by faith alone?

What about Luke 5:24? That’s where Jesus healed the paralytic who had been let down through the roof, saying that He did so “in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” In the same gospel, He told Zaccheus “salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9). When was the last time you heard anyone say, “what about the paralytic” or, “what about Zaccheus?” What these and other cases prove is that the thief on the cross was not the only person to whom Jesus extended salvation before His death. And it was not until after His resurrection that He pronounced with all authority, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Why would the Lord hold the thief or the paralytic or anyone accountable to a command that had not yet been given?

What about Romans 10:9? “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” People argue that baptism is not essential for salvation since the thief was not baptized. It that’s the case, then you don’t have to believe or confess to be saved either. He couldn’t believe in his heart in the resurrection because the event had not yet occurred. He couldn’t confess Jesus as Lord because it was not until God raised Him from the dead that He made Him “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). If you want to make the thief on the cross the pattern for salvation today, you’re going to have to cut out more than baptism.

What about Romans 6:3-4? “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Baptism is not just some ritual to be checked off the list. It is what connects us to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The old man of sin is buried with Christ and the new man raises up to a new life of righteousness. Even if the thief called a “timeout” and came down from the cross, he couldn’t have been baptized “in His death” or raised up in the likeness of His resurrection. This passage alone ought to put the whole argument to death.

Don’t let the thief on the cross rob you of your own salvation. He never got to see the resurrected Christ come out of the grave as conqueror over sin and death. But we have the eyewitness testimony of those who did and heard Him say, “he who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). If you respond in faith and obedience to His gospel call, this same Jesus will remember you when you come into His kingdom.

So, what about you?