The popular argument against one being baptized as a condition of salvation is often heard explained like this: "the thief was saved without baptism and if the Lord was willing to save him that way, He can save me that way, too." Really, this argument is merely a cover for an even more popular doctrine called "faith only." Kind friend, if this is your view of the salvation of the Palestinian thief, you've several things to consider. Are you rightly dividing the word of truth? (2 Timothy 2:15). Those who deny that it is essential for the believer to be baptized for the remission of sins fail to consider the setting or the background of the Scriptures they use to justify their "faith only" doctrine.
First, those who seek to justify their refusal to be baptized on the grounds that the thief was not baptized should carefully weight the evidence. The Bible teaches that multitudes were baptized of John (Luke 3:21; 7:29-30). There is no evidence that the thief was not. The thief could very well have been among the ones who were baptized of John. How can one prove that he was not? The fact is you don't know. Are you willing to reject the Lord's plain command to be baptized in hopes that a lowly Jewish thief was not?
Other questions which surround this discussion can be asked, but generally speaking, I believe they have little to do with the real question. It makes no difference whether the thief was baptized or not. He is not a New Testament example of one being converted to the Savior! What took place between the thief and the Lord as they hung on their crossed is of no more value to us than the example of the penitent woman, or any who received forgiveness of sins while Jesus was alive. Jesus lived under the law and it was not until his death that His new will and testament became effective (Hebrews 9:15-18). Until the testament of Christ became binding, Christ could remit sins in any way he saw fit (Luke 7:47). The promise received by the thief was given under the law. The thief died about forty days before the great commission was given -- a commission that bound faith and baptism (Mark 16:15,16). What happened to him does not make void the need of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19). We are not subject to the law of Moses, but to the law of Christ (Ephesians 2:13-16). If the thief is an example of conversion, it is an Old Testament example! Why not follow some of the New Testament examples, such as Saul (Acts 9:1-18; 22:12-16), Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-13), or some other mentioned in Acts? These are truly New Testament examples of conversion! Instead of going back to the law of Moses and desiring to be saved like the thief, be saved like those of Samaria who believed, after having heard the gospel, and were baptized (Acts 8:15,12). Follow in their footsteps!
~In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 8/3/97.