Many times when presented with the truth on baptism being essential to salvation, people raise the objection "What about the thief on the cross?"

Welcome to our study of that subject. Is the thief on the cross a good reason not to be baptized today for the remission of your sins? That's the question we're going to answer from the word of God.
When sometimes people are presented with the truth about baptism, they begin to raise objections. For example, the Bible with great clarity teaches baptism is essential to salvation. Listen to these verses. "He that believes and is baptized will be saved." The Bible says there that unless you believe and unless you're baptized, you cannot be saved. The Bible does not teach that you're baptized after you're saved. It teaches you're baptized, and then you're saved. Acts 2:38 Peter said, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin." Baptism is not because you've been forgiven of sins. It is to be forgiven.
I can't be forgiven until I'm baptized. It's essential to be forgiven of sin. Peter said in 1 Peter 3:21, "Baptism does now also save us." Baptism removes sins, and baptism is essential to be saved. Jesus said in John 3:5, "Unless a man is born of water in the spirit, he can't enter the kingdom of God." I've got to be born of water to get in God's kingdom. Saul of Tarsus was told, "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins."
Those passages so clearly teach that you are not saved one moment before you're baptized. People will often raise objections to that. Even though those passages are very clear, people often many times because of denominational prejudice will raise objections to this idea. One of the most well-known that we hear the most is, "What about the thief on the cross?"

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The word of God says, “Come out from among them and be ye separate,” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18.

We welcome you today to our study of Out of Denominationalism. Out of division, out of the ways of men, and out of the doctrines of men is the great call that we find in the New Testament.
The idea of denominationalism is not an idea that the Bible speaks fondly of. Dividing, naming after men, and dividing the Lord's church were never a part of God's plan. What does God really want? Instead of denominating and dividing, God wants unity under his Son. Psalm 133:1, the scripture says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Jesus said in John 17:20-21, “I pray that they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us that the world may believe you sent me.”
What does God really want? He wants unity and oneness under the name and the power of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Do we really have that today?

(The full transcript is available in the "Download Document" button above.)