Why One Of The Criminals On The Cross Beside Jesus Was Saved Without Baptism

Why the criminal on the cross was saved without baptism?

Luke 23:42–43 (NKJV): 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The criminal was still in the Old Covenant. When Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, Jesus completed the salvation and ended the Old Covenant. In fact the criminal's crucifixion is an antitype of baptism because baptism represents that we are crucified with Jesus Christ.

In Old Covenant, there are many things representing baptism in New Covenant. For example, Moses took Isreal to cross the Red Sea, Noah's Ark, circumcision, sacrifice of cattle and sheep and so on in the Old Covenant, all are symbol of baptism in New Covenant. And today we are baptized into Jesus so we do not need to be crucified, be circumcised, offer sacrifice of cattle and sheep and cross the Red Sea.

Romans 6:4–6 (NKJV): 4 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.

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

1 Peter 3:20–21 (NKJV): 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Colossians 2:11–12 (NKJV): 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

1 Corinthians 10:1–2 (NKJV): 10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

Baptism is used to wash our sin away with the blood of Jesus. One of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. Although we are baptized by water, however not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

John 19:34 (NKJV): But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

1 John 5:6–8 (NKJV): 6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

Romans 5:9 (NKJV): 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Ephesians 2:13 (NKJV): 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Two criminals were crucified with Jesus. One believed in Jesus, the other did not. The one believed was saved, and the one unbelieved was condemned. Two crucified criminals, the endings were completely different.

Mark 16:16 (NKJV): 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.