In studying the Bible with people often we come across those who balk when it comes to being baptized for remission of sins. Some cannot see how being baptized can do anything for them other than getting them wet. Others simply want to believe, trust in Jesus for their salvation and they often bring up the thief on the cross as an example of being saved without baptism. Here is an example where Jesus simply saved a person and they think, "That's the way I want to be saved." Yet in so doing, they show a misunderstanding of New Testament salvation. During the time Jesus walked on this earth as a man, He had the power to save anyone He wanted to and in any fashion He wanted. So when the thief on the cross showed a pendant attitude toward Jesus and asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom, Jesus responded by telling that man that he would that very day be in paradise with Jesus (Luke 23:39-43). Jesus had this power to forgive anyone's sins He wanted as He demonstrated to the scribes when He healed the man who was let down through the roof (Matthew 9:1-8). There is a key to both of these men's sins being forgiven that we cannot have today, that is, they both came into the physical presence of Jesus Christ Today, Jesus is in heaven sitting on the right hand of God according to the apostle Peter in Acts 2:33, so we can only be saved by the means that Jesus left in place for mankind's salvation. That requires hearing His word (Romans 10:17); coming to believe that word contains the words of life (Romans 1:16); repenting of our sins that have separated us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Luke 13:3,5); confessing our belief in Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10); and being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16). This is how a person is saved today.