The Lord Christ said to the paralytic, “your sins are forgiven you.” (Mark 2:5) and to the sinful woman He said the same (Luke 7:48). Both obtained forgiveness without baptism nor confession, in the same moment, what is the necessity of these two sacramen
The Holy Bible says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Heb 9:22). So, the sins of the paralytic and the sinful woman were only forgiven on the cross, not in the same moment and likewise every forgiveness granted before the crucifixion. It is only a promise of forgiveness, not attainment of forgiveness.
The same can be said with regard to those who offered sacrifices in the Old Testament with repentance for forgiveness of their sins. They waited in Hades with all the righteous of the Old Testament until Christ was crucified and saved them. It is written about them, “not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them.” (Heb 11:13).
Thus, the paralytic and the sinful woman did not obtain forgiveness before the crucifixion, but they deserved it and took a document of the promise.
There is one question: Have they died before or after the crucifixion?
If they have died before the crucifixion, they had to wait in Hades till Christ was crucified. And whoever died before the crucifixion was not required to be baptised the New Testament baptism which is based on the deserts of the blood of Christ; for baptism is also death and resurrection with Christ as the apostle said, “…. we were buried with Him through baptism into death.” (Rom 6:4). Before the crucifixion Christ had not been buried nor His blood shed and therefore no need for baptism.
But if those two (ie. the paralytic and the sinful woman) had lived till the foundation of the church, they would have been required to believe in Christ’s redemption, crucifixion and resurrection and to be baptised since they came to know this sacrament. They would be subject to the words of the Lord, “He who believes and is baptised will be saved.” (Mark 16:16) and to the words of St. Peter the Apostle, “Repent and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38). They had also to walk in a sound spiritual life and the words, “your sins are forgiven you” would be for their old sins only and every new sin would require repentance, confession and holy communion according to the Holy Bible.
