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That accured before Jesus death on the cross. Before Jesus died & was resurrected (spelling wrong I'm sure) sacrafice of animals was still being done. Jesus made the thief a promise on the cross that he would see Heaven. Once Jesus died & came back all old ways of salvation (animal sacrafice) was washed away. It was no longer needed. Even though the thief didn't make a blood sacrafice of an animal on his cross his own blood would of been there while proclaiming Jesus as Lord & Savior.

@mistressofthelost - I too believe in baptism. Now in the book of Acts Peter was given the new way of salvation (no more animal sarafice). Fully repent, be baptized, & be filled with the Holy Ghost. As christians this should not be looked upon as trying to do works to earn our way into Heaven. We aren't worthy of Heaven yet God wants us there. This is more of a commandment by him through Peter for the future christian church. To spread the word among all people. Once we know of God & what He did for us we should gladly follow His commandments. Now even today in the 21st century not all people know of Jesus. Will they go to Hell for not being baptized? I doubt it. I would more likely assume they would be judged upon how they lived their lives & what knowledge they had. Though this is just how I feel on that.

And what of John the Baptist himself? Who baptized him? And Judas. Did he go to Hell? How about Mary, Martha and Lazerus. And Mary Magdelane, and the samaritan woman at the well? She wasn't a Jew, so sacrificing wouldn't have been something for her to do. Yet Jesus told her of a new life. Was Paul baptized? And the Romans. They weren't Jewish. Did those were saved go to Hell also? The Centurian at the foot of the cross. I think it's safe to say he wasn't baptized.

Did you know that the word 'Christian' literally means 'to be of Christ'? It's not 'to be of water' or anything like that. Water is purely symbolism. It always has been. There is no where in the Bible where it says that you will not get into Heaven if you are not baptized in water. Yes, it says 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you'. But Paul doesn't say 'for if you don't, God won't accept you'. Paul wasn't dancing around the meaning. He's not kiding some cryptic message that, if you don't find it, you're going to burn forever in Hell. No. He clearly states what is wrong, and what is right. Baptism is good. Heck, I was baptised. I would say go for it; it's a good thing to do. But you are not going to Hell because you haven't been. There are no works that will get you into Heaven.

"Confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and you will be saved." "But whoever believes in Him will have eternal life." "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the father except through me."

Jesus would have said "and you must also be baptised in water." But He didn't.

And.. Iono.. The representaion of animal sacrifice was because that was before Christ (the Lamb) was sacrificed for our sins. So basically when people sacrificed animals, it was a representation of asking for forgiveness or something like that.

I was taught that baptism is a choice made after you are saved and since babies cannot make the choice to be saved for themselves or be repentant, baptizing them is wrong.

Do are human works bring forth salvation and forgiveness? Never. We are counted as righteous before the Lord when we have faith in the Son and the Father. But then, does faith come when we choose so? Never. Rather faith is a gift from the merciful God, not the result of human will or work.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

i have been baptized before on a hot hot day. it was cool biggrin

im almost positive one doesn't need to be baptised to be saved. it just simply pulls one closer to God. razz