Brethren, we should be thankful to God that He has revealed the truth which we need for our salvation unto us. We should willingly follow the doctrines of God and accept the teachers of Jesus Christ so that we might be saved. There is no other way of salvation outside Jesus Christ.
The doctrines of Jesus Christ are the basis for our salvation. Through the teachings of the doctrines of Jesus Christ, Bro Eli Soriano has explained to us that there are certain doctrines which were given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ, from the apostles. We were taught that we must be baptized. We cannot deny that this is the truth because the Bible says so. Jesus commanded that everyone who receives his teachings and believes in him should be baptized.
Considering the thief on the cross, we will realize that it was the grace and mercy of God that helped him. When God granted him mercy and grace, none of us have the right to query that. That thief on the cross recognized that he was a sinner who needed the mercy of God. He surrendered to Jesus Christ and asked for mercy and he received mercy.
We might not all have the same opportunity. We all need salvation. So let us obey the doctrines and accept baptism as the Bible teaches us. Let us not argue about the situation of the thief on the cross. Let us obey the doctrines which Jesus Christ led down for us.