Water baptism is not necessary in order to be saved. Baptism is something that one does after they are saved.
A few examples of those saved without baptism.
The thief on the cross was saved without baptism.
The immoral woman of Luke 7 was saved without baptism.
The blind man of John 9 was saved without baptism.
Zacchaeus in Luke 19 was saved without baptism.
Pilgrim
Were these people mentioned still under the old covenant and saved by Christ in person Himself? Does that make it different from the way we are saved under grace?
Hi Ollie,
It doesn’t matter what covenant a person was under at the time of salvation. There is only one gospel and no more. If people before the cross were saved differently than those after the cross you would have more than one gospel. So if people before the cross were saved without baptism then people after the cross are saved without baptism. Hebrew 9:15 tells us the redemption of Old Testament saint was based in the New Covenant, not the Old.
Heb 9:15 “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.”
Also, Hebrew 4:2 tells us that the gospel we now have is the same gospel that was preached to those wondering in the wilderness under Moses. Seeing that the Gospel is the same one for those under the Old Covenant as it is for those under the New then the conditions of salvation would be the same. So if Old Testament saints were saved apart from baptism then New Testament saints will be too.
Heb 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
God bless
Pilgrim