The Case of the Thief

Wendell Winkler

 

Apparently, the penitent thief who was crucified with our Lord was saved. To him Christ said, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43). But Jesus taught in John 8:21 that if a person dies in his sins he cannot go where the Lord is. Evasive denominational evangelists have deceived the biblically uninformed by misapplying the account of this thief as they have often reasoned, “The thief on the cross was not baptized; therefore, there is no absolute need in our being baptized either.” Is such truly the case? In our study, let us observe the following five points:

 

First, No Man Can Prove the Thief Was Not Baptized

 

But we are informed, “There is no mention of his having been baptized.” Such is admitted. However, on this basis, we can prove that faith in Christ is not necessary for salvation, for there is not one statement to the effect that Lazarus, who went to paradise (Lk. 16:19-31), believed in Christ. What proves too much proves nothing.

 

Second, It Is Altogether Possible That the Thief Had Been Baptized

 

Notice the widespread coverage and acceptance of John’s baptism. Acts 13:23-25 informs us, “John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.” As John preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, “There went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan” (Mk. 1:4-5). Matthew 3:5-6 relates, “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.” In Luke 3:7 we read of “the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him.” Luke 3:21 adds, “Now when all the people were baptized.” Then, John 4:1 informs us, “That Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John.” Indeed, there was widespread coverage and acceptance of the baptism of John. And let us not forget, John’s baptism was for the remission of sins (Mk. 1:4; Lk. 3:3). Such, of course, was in anticipation of the shed blood of our Lord, without which blood remission of sins would not have been possible (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:22). It was altogether possible that the thief was in these vast numbers just observed.

Observe how well informed the thief was. When dying, “He said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Lk. 23:42). This text implies

 

• that he knew Christ was to have a kingdom;
• that such was to be after our Lord died;
• that he understood the Lord had the power to bless.

 

But the baptism of John, which was for the remission of sins, was connected with the preaching of the kingdom (Mt. 3:1-3; Mk. 1:1-5). Indeed, it is possible that the thief on the cross had been baptized.

“But he was a thief!” we are informed. Such would not militate against his having been baptized. He could have been among the many of the Lord’s disciples who had gone back “and walked no more with him” (Jn. 6:66). After all, apostasy is possible (Lk. 8:11-15; 2 Pet. 2:20-22; 1 Cor. 10:12).

 

Third, the New Testament Was Not in Force When the Lord Made His Promise to the Thief

 

Hebrews 9:15-17. This text states,

 

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise, it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”

 

The following illustration developed by someone is most expressive. There is a rich man named Mr. Doe. His will has been prepared, but it is not in force, for he has not died. A poor widow comes to him asking for assistance, and he helps her liberally. Then, a cripple comes asking for assistance, and he also helps him liberally. On and on this goes for years. There is nothing out of order in all of this since he can dispose of his wealth as he desires while he is living. But he dies. His will is then found and probated; then the executor goes to work disposing of his estate, according to the terms of his will. The poor widow previously mentioned comes and asks for help, but she is refused. She replies, “But if Mr. Doe were alive, he would help me.” The executor states, “I do not doubt this, but he is now dead, and I have no authority to break his will. I can only dispose of his estate as his will directs.”

Thus it is with the will of our Lord. While on earth, Christ could say to the thief, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43). To the man sick of palsy he could say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee” (Mk. 2:5). To the sinful woman in Simon’s house he could say, “Thy sins are forgiven” (Lk. 7:48). To the adulteress he could say, “Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more” (Jn. 8:11). All of the preceding took place before Christ’s last will had gone into effect.

Again, why? “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator” (Heb. 9:16). Christ having since died, his will is now in effect; and we are saved only by complying with the terms of his will. And his will reads, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). Also, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

Incidentally, suppose there was a Mr. Doe, a very rich man, who died and in his will, he said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall receive one thousand dollars.” How many people do you think would have problems understanding that baptism was essential to the receiving of the one thousand dollars?

To argue that baptism is not necessary for man today, “since the thief was never baptized,” is analogous to affirming we need not pay income tax today since Abraham Lincoln never did. You see, Lincoln died before income tax became a law.

Consider the requirements of an effective will and how Christ meets these requirements:

 

• The individual making the will must be of age. Was not Christ past thirty years of age when he died?
• The individual making the will must be of sound mind. Christ put to silence and shame the wisest men of his day; yea, even when he was but a child (Lk. 2:46-47).
• The individual making the will must have something to give or bequeath. Ephesians 1:7 reads, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
• The will must have witnesses. The Lord’s apostles served in this capacity (Acts 1:8; 5:32).
• The will becomes operative only after the death of the testator. Such is plainly stated in Hebrews 9:15-17.
• Wills have executors whose responsibility it is to see that the terms of said will are duly respected and properly executed. The Lord’s apostles served in this capacity as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26; 16:13; Eph. 3:1-12).
• After a will has been properly probated, there is no appeal from the terms and conditions of the will.

 

Since the Lord’s will has been probated by the very court of heaven itself, and since the will sets forth the plan of salvation, there can be no change in the terms or conditions of salvation. To seek to do so renders one a subject of the anathema of heaven (Gal. 1:6-9). We cannot add to nor subtract from the forever-established and divinely probated will of our Lord (Rev. 22:18-19). We cannot go beyond that which is written (1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 1:9-11) and require less than the Lord required; nor can we go beyond that which is written and require more than the Lord has required. Baalam was right when he said, “I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more” (Num. 22:18). Now, when “the case of the thief” is studied in the light of these principles governing wills, the argument that “the thief was not baptized, so men do not have to be baptized today” falls into utter insignificance and is thus rendered invalid.

 

Fourth, the Thief on the Cross Does Not Constitute an Example for Us Today

 

• When the thief was promised paradise, the New Testament was not operative (Heb. 9:15-17).
• When the thief was promised paradise, the Lord’s great commission had not yet been given (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-l6; Lk. 24:46-49; Jn. 20:20-23).
• When the thief was promised paradise, the kingdom of our Lord had not yet been established (Mk. 9:11; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4).
• When the thief was promised paradise, the apostles of our Lord had not yet started using the keys to the kingdom (Mt. 16:18-19; Acts 2:36-38).

 

A special note. It is handling the word of God inaccurately to pass over the thousands of cases of conversion in the book of Acts (Acts 2, 8, 9, 10, 16, 18, 19, 22, 26) and go back to the account of the thief on the cross. Indeed, one is hard pressed in his efforts to establish the non-essentiality of baptism to thus handle the word of God.

 

Fifth, A Word About the Other Thief

 

The other thief remained obstinate, rebellious, blasphemous, and impenitent to the end. Such was the case

• though he was aware the one dying next to him was the Christ, the evidence bearing witness to this fact being overwhelming,
• though he was experiencing excruciating agony, and
• though he knew his death was imminent.

 

How could such ever be? How do you explain such? There is only one answer: a man can sin away the day of grace. He can persist in sin to the extent that repentance is rendered impossible. “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Prov. 29:1). A person’s conscience can become seared with a hot iron, thus being rendered insensitive to the stimulus of God’s grace, mercy, and love (1 Tim. 4:2). Ephesians 4:19 reads, “Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” Benjamin Franklin, of restoration fame, observed that it is true that after death one cannot turn to the Lord; but it is also true that some cannot turn to the Lord before death. A cork pressed under water one hundred times will rise again. However, if pressed down two hundred feet below the surface, it cannot rise again. Why? The pressure of the water above counteracts the buoyancy and causes it to sink. Yes, you can sink beyond the capability of rising again.

 

Conclusion

 

Review. In this study we have observed these statements:

 

• No man can prove the thief was not baptized.
• It is altogether possible that the thief had been baptized.
• The New Testament was not in force when the Lord made his promise to the thief.
• The thief on the cross does not constitute an example for us today.

 

Three died that day. The penitent thief died to sin. The impenitent thief died in sin. The Lord died for sin.

 

 

 

 

Is the Bible Trustworthy?

Wendell Winkler

 

We are living in a day in which legion are they who doubt, if not altogether deny, the trustworthiness of the Bible. To do so is to reject Christ; for he affirmed the Bible was trustworthy (Matthew 19:4-6). To do so is to reject Paul; for he affirmed the trustworthiness of the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:45-49; 2 Corinthians 11:3). To do so is to reject Peter; for he thought the Bible was trustworthy (2 Peter 2:5-8, 15-16; 3:4-6). To do so is to reject John; for he thought the Bible was trustworthy (1 John 3:11-12). To do so is to reject Jude; for he thought the Bible trustworthy (Jude 1:7-9, 11, 14).

Additionally, let us observe indisputable evidence as to why we can affirm the Bible is trustworthy.

 

1. Never Has a Contradiction Been Discovered in the Bible; You Can Trust It!

 

The Bible was written over a period of some sixteen hundred years with some forty different penmen being used. These men lived in different eras separated by millenniums, in different sections of the world, and they came from different backgrounds; yet when all of their writings are put together, there is an amazing, harmonious, united whole, without a single contradiction to be found therein. Such can be more deeply appreciated by further noting:

 

• The Bible came from the ancient Jews who were never widely known for their desire to practice conformity for conformity’s sake.
• There were about forty different penmen used, whereas human productions often have been produced by one man.
• The penmen of the Bible differ so greatly in their characters—some were fishermen, some were shepherds, some were kings, some were educated, and some were not educated.
• Many changes took place while the Bible was being written, with scientific discoveries being made, with civilizations rising and falling, and with revolutions shaking the earth from center to circumference.

 

But when all of the writings were combined, there was not a single contradiction. The construction of Solomon’ temple may be used as an illustration. The materials were prepared at the quarry without the sound of a hammer being heard at the temple site. How could the stones all fit so perfectly? How could this ever be? The answer is quite obvious: there was a master mind behind it all. So it was with the Bible!

We are aware that men have made attempts to find contradictions in the Bible. However, all such attempts have been easily dissipated by

 

• understanding exactly what a contradiction is, and
• by studying the matter at hand more minutely and carefully.

 

Keep in mind that a contradiction obtains when two statements cannot both be true—not because they differ. Two statements cannot be rightfully pronounced contradictory if on any rational hypothesis, we may suppose them both to be true. Additionally, if it is possible for both statements to be true, then it is possible that no contradiction exists; if it is probable that both statements are true, then it is probable that no contradiction exists.

Let us now give one illustration of an alleged contradiction. James 1:13 says God does not tempt, whereas Genesis 22:1 states that God tempted Abraham. The answer: God does not tempt in the sense of seeking to induce one to do evil. However, He does tempt in the sense that He seeks to prove and try. Thus, there is no contraction between the two passages.

 

2. Never Has a Scientific Error Been Discovered in the Bible; You Can Trust It!

 

Irrespective of how far science has advanced, or may advance, the Bible is never rendered obsolete, nor has a scientific discrepancy been discovered. Rather, the Bible has often antedated science. To illustrate, when the rotundity of the earth was discovered, the Bible had already taught the same (Isaiah 40:22). In contrast, however, so-called “science” has often been rendered obsolete and its theories shown to be contradictory.

“Two statements cannot be rightfully pronounced contradictory if on any rational hypothesis, we may suppose them both to be true.” The French Academy of Science in 1861 published fifty-one scientific facts, all of which contradicted the Scriptures, it was thought. However, not a one of the fifty-one is now believed by a living man of science. The library of the Louvre in Paris contains many shelves containing volumes of science that have become obsolete. Science is growing, but in the language of the little boy, “The Bible is done growed!”

In contrast to science, the Bible is always up to date. Its modernity is one of its many internal evidences of inspiration. In the Oliphant-Smith Debate, page 165, Dr. Frank Allen, then head of the department of physics, University of Manitoba, said: “There is scarcely a theory of science which is generally accepted today, of which I would be ready to affirm that it may not be abandoned in a few years. Nearly all of the theories which were regarded as satisfactory a few years ago, are now either modified or discarded by science.”

There is no conflict between true science and the Bible. Why is this the case? God is the author of both books (James 1:17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17). As brother Oliphant said, “Conflicts are the result of science misunderstood, or religion misinterpreted.” No wonder, then, we read of “science falsely so-called” in First Timothy 6:20.

 

3. Never Has an Historical Inaccuracy Been Discovered in the Bible; You Can Trust It!

 

An illustration from the Hittites. There are many references to the Hittites in the Old Testament Scriptures (Genesis 15:20; Exodus 3:8, 17; Numbers 13:29; Deuteronomy 20:17; Joshua 1:4). For years, skeptics of varying stripes denied the historical existence of such a nation. But the archaeologist’s spade uncovered evidence that indisputably proved that such a nation/people did exist. In the Egyptian’s ruins which have been discovered, the Hittites were mentioned in Merneptah’s (supposed to be the pharaoh of the Exodus) inscription at his tomb. In The Bible vs. Modernism, page 138, we read, “They are mentioned by Shalmaneser II, by Tiglath-Pileser III, and Sargon II, king of Assyria, says in his annals of 717 B.C. that he captured Carchemish, their capital city, and thus ended the Hittite power. Many sculptures of Hittite kings, priests, deities, warriors, etc., have been found. But perhaps the most striking reference to them is found in the inscription at the temples of Karnak, Thebes, which records the wars of Ramases 2 with the Hittites, including a treaty of peace and an alliance with them, which is said to be the oldest diplomatic document in the world.”

As the Bible is sometimes pre-scientific, so it is prehistoric. What do we mean? Isaiah named the king of Persia, Cyrus, before he was ever born (Isaiah 45:1; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23).

 

 

 

4. Never Has a Geographical Blunder Been Found in the Bible; You Can Trust It!

 

Anytime the Bible says a given location is in the south, it is always in the south! Any time the Bible says a given place is up, it is always in that given direction. To illustrate, when the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip and said, “Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem, unto Gaza” (Acts 8:26), that is the way it was, geographically. Gaza was south of Jerusalem. Further, the way did go “down.” The terrain from Jerusalem to Gaza is from the mountains to the seacoast; hence, downward.

 

5. Never Has One of Its Prophetic Utterances, Intended for Previous Fulfillment, Failed in Coming to Pass; You Can Trust It!

 

The test of true prophecy. For prophecy to be genuine,

 

• it must have been uttered long enough before the accomplishment of the event so as to preclude the prophet from actually and literally participating in its fulfillment;
• the prophecy must have sufficient details within it so as to preclude any coincidence; and
• there must be a complete historical fulfillment of that matter predicted. Bible prophecy meets these conditions beyond doubt, and then some.

 

Prophecies concerning Christ. There are some three hundred and thirty-two details concerning the life of Christ prophesied in the Old Testament, with all of them having been historically fulfilled. For examples, consider the following:

 

• The place of his birth was prophesied (Micah 5:2), and such was fulfilled (Matthew 2:1).
• The circumstances surrounding his birth were prophesied (Jeremiah 31:15), with such being fulfilled (Matthew 2:17-18).
• It was prophesied that John the Baptist would introduce him (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1), with such being fulfilled (Matthew 3:1-3).
• It was prophesied that he would do the work of a prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15), and it was fulfilled (Acts 3:22-26).
• It was prophesied that he would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6), and he fulfilled the same (Luke 7:18-23).
• His crucifixion was prophesied (Isaiah 53), with such being fulfilled (Matthew 26-27).
• It was prophesied that he would be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9), and this was fulfilled (Matthew 27:57-60).
• It was prophesied that he would be raised on the third day (Psalm 16:8-10; Matthew 16:21), and such was fulfilled (Acts 2:31).

 

Prophecies concerning the kingdom. The kingdom the prophets saw makes an interesting study. Daniel said the kingdom would be established during the days of the Roman kings (Daniel 2:36-44); Isaiah prophesied the kingdom would be established in Jerusalem in the last days (Isaiah 2:1-4), and such came to pass (Acts 2:1ff).

 

6. Never Has an Infidel Been Able to Explain the Bible’s Origin Except from a Supernatural Source; You Can Trust It!

 

The Bible came from (1) good men and/or angels, (2) bad men and/or devils, or (3) God.

 

• The Bible did not come from good men and/or angels. The Bible claims to be divine in its origin (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). If such was not the case, then a lie was told. But good men and/or holy angels do not lie.
• The Bible did not come from bad men and/or devils. If so, how do we account for such superior moral and ethical codes as are found in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount? Further, why are devils and bad men consigned to hell? (Matthew 25:41). Why would evil be discouraged? (Galatians 5:19-21).
• Consequently, there being only one alternative, we can unreservedly affirm that the Bible is from God; that it is divine in origin (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Paul would say it, “I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12).

 

Being divine in origin, the Bible shares in the nature of its author, God. Since God is holy, the Bible is holy (2 Timothy 3:15). Since God is unchanging (James 1:17), so is the Bible (Galatians 1:6-9). Since God is eternal (Romans 16:26), so is the Bible (1 Peter 1:25). Since God is trustworthy (Proverbs 3:5), so is the Bible! In Revelation 19:11, our Lord is spoken of as being the “Faithful and True” one. Indeed, he is trustworthy, and so is his word!

 

Conclusion

 

The Bible being trustworthy, we can conclude:

 

• Every account found in the Bible is true: creation, the flood, marching through the Red Sea, and Jesus being born of a virgin.
• Every threat of the Bible will be carried out (Mark 16:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 21:7).
• Every promise of the Bible will be fulfilled (2 Peter 3:9).
• Every command of the Bible must be obeyed (Matthew 7:21; Revelation 22:14).

 

Wendell Winkler is chairman of the Department of Bible at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama.