Typical thoroughly indoctrinated Campbellite.
Since your pet verses in regard to baptism "on the surface" merely "appear" to teach what you claim, should we also interpret John 6:54-56 to mean that we literally eat Jesus' flesh and literally drink His blood when we partake of the Lord's supper? Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. So the correct interpretation results in cannibalism? Is that plain English as well? Roman Catholics seem to believe so which has resulted in the
false doctrine of transubstantiation.
Yet, Jesus is the Bread of Life and just as bread nourishes our physical bodies, Jesus gives and sustains eternal life to all believers. John 6:35 - "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." Jesus used
figurative language to emphasize these spiritual truths. John 6:63 -
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."
By faith we partake of Christ, and the benefits of His bodily sacrifice on the cross and shed blood, receiving eternal life.
John 6:40 - Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:54 - Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:47 - Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
John 6:58 - He who eats this bread will live forever.
"He who believes" in Christ is equivalent to "he who eats this bread and drinks My blood" as the result is the same, eternal life.
*HERMENEUTICS*
No scripture is to be interpreted in isolation from the totality of scripture. Practically speaking, a singular and obscure verse is to be subservient to multiple and clear verses, and not vice versa.