The thief on the cross

Salvation in the Gospels and the thief on the cross.

Luke 23:

[39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
[40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
[41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
[42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
[43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Here we have a perfect example of a helpless sinner that cannot do any works to improve his situation getting saved by believing on Christ. The thief on the cross did not get water baptized, did not take the Lord's supper, and was a criminal....yet he was saved.

This is where the Campbellites suddenly get dispensational and decide to "rightly divide the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). The COCs quote Hebrews 9:14-17 and say that the thief was not saved under the new covenant because Christ had not yet died.

...But who died first?

John 19:

[31] The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
[32] Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
[33] But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

The new testament was in force when the thief died!

Also, even though the new testament did not technically begin until the death of Christ, the doctrine of it was already established during the ministry of Christ on the earth.

The NT doctrine of believing on Christ for salvation: John 1:7, John 1:12-13, John 3:15-18, John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:29, John 6:35, John 6:40, John 6:47, John 8:24, John 11:25-26, John 12:46, John 20:31.

The NT doctrine of Christ water baptism for all believers, not just priests: Matthew 3:6-11, Mark 1:4-5, Luke 3:3, Luke 7:29-30.

The NT doctrine of remembering the Lord's death through the Lord's supper: Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20.

The NT doctrine of the Holy Spirit: John 3:1-8, John 7:38-39, John 14:16-28, John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:13, Matthew 3:11, Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 13:11, John 1:33.

Christ did not give the apostles brand new doctrine after His resurrection, He did not throw out everything and say, "Well this is the New Testament now, everything we've been teaching for the past three years is outdated, Old Testament doctrine. Here's some new stuff...". Christ told the apostles to go teach the things that He had already commanded them!

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Salvation in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John was not a 'however Jesus decides to save you at the moment' type deal. I do not see that ANYWHERE in the Bible. So if the plan of salvation was 'repent and be buptized' during the Gospels, then that is what the thief on the cross would have had to do. Jesus said that there was only ONE plan of salvation in the gospels and if you tried anything else you were a thief and a robber!

John 10:1-7 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Folks that were obviously saved without water baptism:

1.) John the Baptist

2.) Man sick of the palsy in Matthew 9:1-2

3.) The woman in Luke 7:44-50

4.) The blind man in Luke 18:35-43

Jesus said that works could not save a man, it was believing on Him that saved.

John 6:63-64 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.