Post by DrGadget on Aug 20, 2014 17:13:11 GMT -5
START OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Where exactly does the New Testament start? And is it relevant when discussing the thief on the cross?
Contrary to the obvious evidence, I was informed that the New Testament didn’t really start at the beginning of the New Testament. Instead, it started with Jesus dying. I wasn’t too clear on the precise timing of this, as I was unable to ask many questions at the time, thus the need for this study.
It came in the context of the need for baptism in order to be saved. His argument was that without baptism, you will go to Hell. I quickly brought up the thief on the cross. In the immediate vicinity of Jesus, there were two thieves on crosses. One of them became a believer, and the other did not. Jesus promised paradise for the believer.
Luke 23:39-43
[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.
The man I was speaking to laughed and said he knew I was going to bring up the thief on the cross. But that happened in the Old Testament. So it didn’t count.
Really? The thief on the cross died in the Old Testament?
He handed me a set of handouts, under condition that I not show them to anyone, including my family. But he said I could discuss them with anyone. So I will.
One of the handouts included information “proving” that the New Testament didn’t start until after Jesus died. This was the key passage proving it.
Hebrews 9:14-17
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] 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.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
There are a few problems with this line of reasoning.
GOSPEL IS NEW TESTAMENT
Mark starts off his Gospel account by saying it’s the beginning of the Gospel. He didn’t proclaim this at the point where Jesus died on the cross.
Mark 1:1
[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
The word “Gospel” occurs exactly zero times in the Old Testament. Each of the Gospel writers started at the beginning of the Gospel. Mark stated plainly that this was the beginning of the Gospel.
In the “What About the Thief on the Cross” handout, it cited Colossians 2:14 as saying that the Old Testament (handwriting of ordinances) was nailed to the cross with Jesus and presumably died with Him.
Colossians 2:14
[14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
But if the Gospel was the “Old Testament”, and the Old Testament died on the cross with Jesus, then Jesus killed the Gospel along with the Law. This is error. The Gospel is alive and well. The Gospel is New Testament. That means Mark 1:1 is New Testament.
CHANGE THE WILL
Firstly, the author of the handout went on to add that if you make a will, you can change it before you die. He said that Jesus could have changed everything around however He pleased and none of it would have mattered until He died. This is not true at all.
Jesus Christ didn’t come here to do His own will, but that of the Father.
John 5:30
[30] I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
God doesn’t change His mind willy-nilly. He’s not fickle. He’s steadfast in all things.
James 1:17
[17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Man might change his mind. Man might have to go back and eat his words. Man might have to correct past mistakes. God does none of these things.
Psalm 119:89
[89] For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Matthew 24:
[35] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 5:18
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Man’s words may fall to the ground and die. God’s holy Word does not. God’s Word goes forth with power and does amazing things. God’s words are chiseled in stone, while Man’s words are penciled in silly putty. There is an enormous difference between the ways of God and the ways of Man, the thoughts of God and Man, and the words of God and Man. God’s word never returns void.
Isaiah 55:9-11
[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
[10] For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
[11] So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
So let’s dispense with the notion that Jesus could have made random, tentative, or temporary sayings that were subject to later revision. And who exactly would be qualified to revise Jesus’ words? I will tell you right now, you had better not. There is a sever warning for those who seek to “improve” what God said in the Bible.
Revelation 22:18-19
[18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
[19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
The Bible is the written Word of God. Jesus is the living Word of God. The two will never contradict. No man is qualified to revise anything Jesus said. God won’t do it, and you had better not even try. Jesus was, and still is, perfect. There is no sin or error in Jesus. There never was. He is perfect in all His ways.
STARTING WITH DEATH
The second problem is the idea that the New Testament started with the death of Jesus Christ. Let’s look again at that key Scripture passage.
Hebrews 9:14-17
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] 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.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
This passage doesn’t say the testament (in this case the New Testament) doesn’t exist. It says that it has no strength. Just because it’s not yet being fully enforced doesn’t make it nonexistent. Most of the Gospel accounts occur BEFORE Jesus died on the cross. They happened. They were important. Jesus had much to say, much to do, much to teach. He was also accused, convicted, despised, and caused to suffer before He died. These things can’t be ignored simply because He was still alive at the time. The things Jesus said were no less true when spoken by Jesus before He died on the cross, as opposed to after He rose from the grave. He’s still the Son of God, and equal with God. That was never conditional upon His death.
Without the part of the Gospel that happened before the cross, we lose much. We lose the virgin birth. We lose the many miracles Jesus performed. We lose Jesus’ authority over the seas, the wind, and even demons. We lose Barabbas being the first person being saved because Jesus was condemned to the cross in his stead. We lose almost everything Jesus said about Heaven and Hell. We lose Jesus’ great forgiveness, even to those who condemned Him to the cross.
If Jesus had “no strength” to enforce His Testament before He died, then how dare He tell the prostitute that her sins were forgiven? How dare He perform any miracles? Jesus had power. Real power. And real authority. This authority didn’t begin after He died. He had it all along. He also had the authority to delegate authority to others.
Matthew 21:23-27
[23] And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
[24] And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
[25] The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
[26] But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
[27] And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
Mark 1:27
[27] And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
Luke 9:1-2
[1] Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
[2] And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Matthew 9:4-7
[4] And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
[5] For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
[6] But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
[7] And he arose, and departed to his house.
Jesus’ authority and power didn’t start when He died on the cross. The authority and power of the Gospel started when He died on the cross. The living Word was replaced by the written Word. This was actually better, because Jesus was limited to being in one place at a time. But the Gospel (written Word) went forward in the power of the Holy Spirit, who could be everywhere at the same time.
John 14:16-19, 25-26
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
[17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
[18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
[19] Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
[25] These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
[26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26-27
[26] But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
[27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 16:5-13
[5] But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
[6] But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
[7] Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
[8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
[9] Of sin, because they believe not on me;
[10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
[11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
[12] I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
So until Jesus departed (died and rose again) He would not have been able to send us the Holy Spirit. This was expedient for us, in that the Gospel spread far more after Jesus died than it did before He died on the cross.
In all this, Jesus had authority and power. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He had power and the Holy Spirit, but other people did not have the Holy Spirit. But after He died and rose again, the Gospel had power through the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:38
[38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Romans 1:16
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Thessalonians 1:5-6
[5] For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
[6] And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
Hebrews 4:12
[12] For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
As Christians, we are living temples of the Holy Spirit. People became the living temples of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
[16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
[17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
[19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
[20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
2 Corinthians 6:15-17
[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
So yes, the New Testament had power after Jesus died, but this does not mean that Jesus Himself had no power or authority before He died on the cross. Let’s look again at that key passage.
Hebrews 9:14-17
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] 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.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Truly, the Gospels had no power before Jesus died on the cross. Indeed, Jesus said there was no reason to believe them at all, unless He rose from the grave.
JESUS DIED FIRST
The third problem with this whole idea was that Jesus died first. The only reason I was told that the thief on the cross was “Old Testament” was to refute the idea of being saved without baptism. It supposedly didn’t matter that the thief was never baptized because he died in the “Old Testament”, which in this case was before Jesus died on the cross.
One more time, let’s look at the key passage.
Hebrews 9:14-17
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] 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.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Right there, in verse 17, is the supposed proof that the New Testament started when Jesus died. This made whatever Jesus said to the thief on the cross an Old Testament event. So even though you must be baptized to enter Heaven (according to the man who presented me with these ideas), that was only in force during the New Testament. And since the thief on the cross was the last believer to die in what he claimed was the Old Testament, he didn’t need to be baptized to enter Heaven.
Except he wasn’t. He wasn’t the last person to die in the Old Testament. Using this same logic, he was the first to die in the New Testament. Why? Because Jesus died first.
Here’s where Jesus died (in verse 50).
Matthew 27:48-54
[48] And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
[49] The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
[50] Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
[51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
[52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
[53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
[54] Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
But when was this in relation to the other people on the cross? Let’s see what John said about it, since he was standing closer to the action.
John 19:29-36
[29] Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
[30] When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
[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:
[34] But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
[35] And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
[36] For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Jesus died first. In this passage, He died in verse 30. The others were still alive at the time, so the Romans broke their legs to hasten their execution (verse 32). Notice it even says they broke the legs of the first and then the other who was with Him. Let there be no doubt. They were both still alive when Jesus died. They were about to break Jesus’ legs too, but He was already dead. So they didn’t break His legs.
Jesus died first. According to verse 17 of our key passage, the New Testament now has strength, as the testator (He who wrote the testament) was no longer alive.
At that one moment in time, Jesus was dead, and the thief on the cross was still alive, waiting for the Roman soldiers to break his legs so he could die already.
If baptism were truly necessary for being saved, and this rule was only enforced in the New Testament, then the thief on the cross died unbaptized in the New Testament. He went to Hell.
But Jesus said otherwise. Was Jesus a liar? No, that can’t be. Jesus was not only full of truth, but He was truth.
John 14:6
[6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus didn’t tell Thomas that He was one of many ways. He wasn’t a special type of truth. He wasn’t one of a variety of life. Jesus told Thomas that He was THE way, THE truth, and THE life. There is no other way. There is no other truth. There is no other life. There’s no other way to approach the Father. Jesus is the only way.
Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him that day in paradise. This had to be the truth. Not only did Jesus say that, but He said, “Verily”. So it was truly truth. Look again.
Luke 23:43
[43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
How much truer do you need? This is truly truth. Jesus may have said this before He died, but the thief died (unbaptized) after Jesus died. So one of these must be true.
a. Jesus lied. Not possible.
b. The thief somehow died during the “Old Testament” time, before the need for baptism could take full effect. Not according to Hebrews 9:17, the very verse they used to prove their point.
c. Jesus took the thief to paradise just to tease him, and then sent him to Hell for not being baptized. Is someone seriously going to argue this to me?
d. Baptism is not required for salvation.
The only answer that makes any sense here is that baptism is not required for salvation.
So why baptize? We are commanded to. It is the first step for a new Christian. You are showing everyone that you identify with Christ and are partaking in His death, burial, and resurrection. Don’t be ashamed. If you haven’t been baptized (full immersion) then you should. Invite your friends and family. Let them know that you identify with Christ publicly. Take the dunk already and let the world know you identify with Jesus.
Also consider people being “baptized” in the Old Testament. God knew what was coming.
1 Corinthians 10:1-6
[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
[2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
[3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
[5] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
[6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
In the case of the thief on the cross, can there be any doubt that he took part in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection? Our baptism in water is a symbol of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The thief on the cross experienced it all literally, not symbolically. He literally died mere feet away from Jesus, probably only a few minutes afterward. He was literally buried on the same day, but in a different grave. And he was literally resurrected to be with Jesus in Paradise that same day. This is a far more public sign than baptism, and far more accurate.
And remember, the Hebrew day starts with the evening. This is why the Jews were in such a hurry to make sure the criminals on the crosses were dead. The Sabbath day would soon start and this would be a violation of the Law. They had to get them down off those crosses quickly. The evening was quickly approaching, meaning the start of a new day (the Sabbath).
But this means that the bodies were probably not even buried yet when Jesus met the thief in Paradise. Jesus told him TODAY he would be with Jesus in Paradise (Luke 23:34).
Baptism is easy. Thank the Lord that we’re not commanded to get nailed to a cross to identify with Jesus. Even if just for a few minutes, it would be torture. But if it was required of us, it would be worth it for salvation.
No, we’re not required to get nailed to a cross or get buried in a grave to identify with Jesus. It’s a relatively painless process to be placed under water for a second or two and then arise to “new life”.
The thief on the cross clearly identified with Jesus. He clearly took part in His death, burial, and resurrection. It was a public show, just like baptism, only more so. But it wasn’t baptism. There was no water. It wasn’t anything like what we would consider a true baptism.
Where exactly does the New Testament start? And is it relevant when discussing the thief on the cross?
Contrary to the obvious evidence, I was informed that the New Testament didn’t really start at the beginning of the New Testament. Instead, it started with Jesus dying. I wasn’t too clear on the precise timing of this, as I was unable to ask many questions at the time, thus the need for this study.
It came in the context of the need for baptism in order to be saved. His argument was that without baptism, you will go to Hell. I quickly brought up the thief on the cross. In the immediate vicinity of Jesus, there were two thieves on crosses. One of them became a believer, and the other did not. Jesus promised paradise for the believer.
Luke 23:39-43
[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.
The man I was speaking to laughed and said he knew I was going to bring up the thief on the cross. But that happened in the Old Testament. So it didn’t count.
Really? The thief on the cross died in the Old Testament?
He handed me a set of handouts, under condition that I not show them to anyone, including my family. But he said I could discuss them with anyone. So I will.
One of the handouts included information “proving” that the New Testament didn’t start until after Jesus died. This was the key passage proving it.
Hebrews 9:14-17
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] 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.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
There are a few problems with this line of reasoning.
GOSPEL IS NEW TESTAMENT
Mark starts off his Gospel account by saying it’s the beginning of the Gospel. He didn’t proclaim this at the point where Jesus died on the cross.
Mark 1:1
[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
The word “Gospel” occurs exactly zero times in the Old Testament. Each of the Gospel writers started at the beginning of the Gospel. Mark stated plainly that this was the beginning of the Gospel.
In the “What About the Thief on the Cross” handout, it cited Colossians 2:14 as saying that the Old Testament (handwriting of ordinances) was nailed to the cross with Jesus and presumably died with Him.
Colossians 2:14
[14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
But if the Gospel was the “Old Testament”, and the Old Testament died on the cross with Jesus, then Jesus killed the Gospel along with the Law. This is error. The Gospel is alive and well. The Gospel is New Testament. That means Mark 1:1 is New Testament.
CHANGE THE WILL
Firstly, the author of the handout went on to add that if you make a will, you can change it before you die. He said that Jesus could have changed everything around however He pleased and none of it would have mattered until He died. This is not true at all.
Jesus Christ didn’t come here to do His own will, but that of the Father.
John 5:30
[30] I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
God doesn’t change His mind willy-nilly. He’s not fickle. He’s steadfast in all things.
James 1:17
[17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Man might change his mind. Man might have to go back and eat his words. Man might have to correct past mistakes. God does none of these things.
Psalm 119:89
[89] For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Matthew 24:
[35] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 5:18
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Man’s words may fall to the ground and die. God’s holy Word does not. God’s Word goes forth with power and does amazing things. God’s words are chiseled in stone, while Man’s words are penciled in silly putty. There is an enormous difference between the ways of God and the ways of Man, the thoughts of God and Man, and the words of God and Man. God’s word never returns void.
Isaiah 55:9-11
[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
[10] For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
[11] So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
So let’s dispense with the notion that Jesus could have made random, tentative, or temporary sayings that were subject to later revision. And who exactly would be qualified to revise Jesus’ words? I will tell you right now, you had better not. There is a sever warning for those who seek to “improve” what God said in the Bible.
Revelation 22:18-19
[18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
[19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
The Bible is the written Word of God. Jesus is the living Word of God. The two will never contradict. No man is qualified to revise anything Jesus said. God won’t do it, and you had better not even try. Jesus was, and still is, perfect. There is no sin or error in Jesus. There never was. He is perfect in all His ways.
STARTING WITH DEATH
The second problem is the idea that the New Testament started with the death of Jesus Christ. Let’s look again at that key Scripture passage.
Hebrews 9:14-17
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] 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.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
This passage doesn’t say the testament (in this case the New Testament) doesn’t exist. It says that it has no strength. Just because it’s not yet being fully enforced doesn’t make it nonexistent. Most of the Gospel accounts occur BEFORE Jesus died on the cross. They happened. They were important. Jesus had much to say, much to do, much to teach. He was also accused, convicted, despised, and caused to suffer before He died. These things can’t be ignored simply because He was still alive at the time. The things Jesus said were no less true when spoken by Jesus before He died on the cross, as opposed to after He rose from the grave. He’s still the Son of God, and equal with God. That was never conditional upon His death.
Without the part of the Gospel that happened before the cross, we lose much. We lose the virgin birth. We lose the many miracles Jesus performed. We lose Jesus’ authority over the seas, the wind, and even demons. We lose Barabbas being the first person being saved because Jesus was condemned to the cross in his stead. We lose almost everything Jesus said about Heaven and Hell. We lose Jesus’ great forgiveness, even to those who condemned Him to the cross.
If Jesus had “no strength” to enforce His Testament before He died, then how dare He tell the prostitute that her sins were forgiven? How dare He perform any miracles? Jesus had power. Real power. And real authority. This authority didn’t begin after He died. He had it all along. He also had the authority to delegate authority to others.
Matthew 21:23-27
[23] And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
[24] And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
[25] The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
[26] But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
[27] And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
Mark 1:27
[27] And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
Luke 9:1-2
[1] Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
[2] And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Matthew 9:4-7
[4] And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
[5] For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
[6] But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
[7] And he arose, and departed to his house.
Jesus’ authority and power didn’t start when He died on the cross. The authority and power of the Gospel started when He died on the cross. The living Word was replaced by the written Word. This was actually better, because Jesus was limited to being in one place at a time. But the Gospel (written Word) went forward in the power of the Holy Spirit, who could be everywhere at the same time.
John 14:16-19, 25-26
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
[17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
[18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
[19] Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
[25] These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
[26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26-27
[26] But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
[27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 16:5-13
[5] But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
[6] But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
[7] Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
[8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
[9] Of sin, because they believe not on me;
[10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
[11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
[12] I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
So until Jesus departed (died and rose again) He would not have been able to send us the Holy Spirit. This was expedient for us, in that the Gospel spread far more after Jesus died than it did before He died on the cross.
In all this, Jesus had authority and power. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He had power and the Holy Spirit, but other people did not have the Holy Spirit. But after He died and rose again, the Gospel had power through the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:38
[38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Romans 1:16
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Thessalonians 1:5-6
[5] For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
[6] And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
Hebrews 4:12
[12] For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
As Christians, we are living temples of the Holy Spirit. People became the living temples of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
[16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
[17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
[19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
[20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
2 Corinthians 6:15-17
[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
So yes, the New Testament had power after Jesus died, but this does not mean that Jesus Himself had no power or authority before He died on the cross. Let’s look again at that key passage.
Hebrews 9:14-17
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] 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.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Truly, the Gospels had no power before Jesus died on the cross. Indeed, Jesus said there was no reason to believe them at all, unless He rose from the grave.
JESUS DIED FIRST
The third problem with this whole idea was that Jesus died first. The only reason I was told that the thief on the cross was “Old Testament” was to refute the idea of being saved without baptism. It supposedly didn’t matter that the thief was never baptized because he died in the “Old Testament”, which in this case was before Jesus died on the cross.
One more time, let’s look at the key passage.
Hebrews 9:14-17
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] 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.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Right there, in verse 17, is the supposed proof that the New Testament started when Jesus died. This made whatever Jesus said to the thief on the cross an Old Testament event. So even though you must be baptized to enter Heaven (according to the man who presented me with these ideas), that was only in force during the New Testament. And since the thief on the cross was the last believer to die in what he claimed was the Old Testament, he didn’t need to be baptized to enter Heaven.
Except he wasn’t. He wasn’t the last person to die in the Old Testament. Using this same logic, he was the first to die in the New Testament. Why? Because Jesus died first.
Here’s where Jesus died (in verse 50).
Matthew 27:48-54
[48] And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
[49] The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
[50] Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
[51] And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
[52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
[53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
[54] Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
But when was this in relation to the other people on the cross? Let’s see what John said about it, since he was standing closer to the action.
John 19:29-36
[29] Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
[30] When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
[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:
[34] But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
[35] And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
[36] For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Jesus died first. In this passage, He died in verse 30. The others were still alive at the time, so the Romans broke their legs to hasten their execution (verse 32). Notice it even says they broke the legs of the first and then the other who was with Him. Let there be no doubt. They were both still alive when Jesus died. They were about to break Jesus’ legs too, but He was already dead. So they didn’t break His legs.
Jesus died first. According to verse 17 of our key passage, the New Testament now has strength, as the testator (He who wrote the testament) was no longer alive.
At that one moment in time, Jesus was dead, and the thief on the cross was still alive, waiting for the Roman soldiers to break his legs so he could die already.
If baptism were truly necessary for being saved, and this rule was only enforced in the New Testament, then the thief on the cross died unbaptized in the New Testament. He went to Hell.
But Jesus said otherwise. Was Jesus a liar? No, that can’t be. Jesus was not only full of truth, but He was truth.
John 14:6
[6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus didn’t tell Thomas that He was one of many ways. He wasn’t a special type of truth. He wasn’t one of a variety of life. Jesus told Thomas that He was THE way, THE truth, and THE life. There is no other way. There is no other truth. There is no other life. There’s no other way to approach the Father. Jesus is the only way.
Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him that day in paradise. This had to be the truth. Not only did Jesus say that, but He said, “Verily”. So it was truly truth. Look again.
Luke 23:43
[43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
How much truer do you need? This is truly truth. Jesus may have said this before He died, but the thief died (unbaptized) after Jesus died. So one of these must be true.
a. Jesus lied. Not possible.
b. The thief somehow died during the “Old Testament” time, before the need for baptism could take full effect. Not according to Hebrews 9:17, the very verse they used to prove their point.
c. Jesus took the thief to paradise just to tease him, and then sent him to Hell for not being baptized. Is someone seriously going to argue this to me?
d. Baptism is not required for salvation.
The only answer that makes any sense here is that baptism is not required for salvation.
So why baptize? We are commanded to. It is the first step for a new Christian. You are showing everyone that you identify with Christ and are partaking in His death, burial, and resurrection. Don’t be ashamed. If you haven’t been baptized (full immersion) then you should. Invite your friends and family. Let them know that you identify with Christ publicly. Take the dunk already and let the world know you identify with Jesus.
Also consider people being “baptized” in the Old Testament. God knew what was coming.
1 Corinthians 10:1-6
[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
[2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
[3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
[5] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
[6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
In the case of the thief on the cross, can there be any doubt that he took part in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection? Our baptism in water is a symbol of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The thief on the cross experienced it all literally, not symbolically. He literally died mere feet away from Jesus, probably only a few minutes afterward. He was literally buried on the same day, but in a different grave. And he was literally resurrected to be with Jesus in Paradise that same day. This is a far more public sign than baptism, and far more accurate.
And remember, the Hebrew day starts with the evening. This is why the Jews were in such a hurry to make sure the criminals on the crosses were dead. The Sabbath day would soon start and this would be a violation of the Law. They had to get them down off those crosses quickly. The evening was quickly approaching, meaning the start of a new day (the Sabbath).
But this means that the bodies were probably not even buried yet when Jesus met the thief in Paradise. Jesus told him TODAY he would be with Jesus in Paradise (Luke 23:34).
Baptism is easy. Thank the Lord that we’re not commanded to get nailed to a cross to identify with Jesus. Even if just for a few minutes, it would be torture. But if it was required of us, it would be worth it for salvation.
No, we’re not required to get nailed to a cross or get buried in a grave to identify with Jesus. It’s a relatively painless process to be placed under water for a second or two and then arise to “new life”.
The thief on the cross clearly identified with Jesus. He clearly took part in His death, burial, and resurrection. It was a public show, just like baptism, only more so. But it wasn’t baptism. There was no water. It wasn’t anything like what we would consider a true baptism.
