It remains bad exegesis to take a word that is used figuratively in one context and then think you can apply that figurative meaning in any context you wish.
It's bad exegesis for you to take a word that is used literally in one context (example: Matthew 3:11 - I baptize you with
water for repentance -
water baptism) and then think you can apply that literal meaning in any context you wish. Read on - But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will
baptize you with the
Holy Spirit (not literal water baptism) and with fire. *Notice the distinction.
Doing so has you adding to God's word as in 1 Cor 12:13 Paul said "baptized" you change this to "spirit baptized".
I didn't change what Paul said. He clearly said by
ONE SPIRIT (not by H20) we were all baptized INTO ONE BODY.. This is a clear reference to
SPIRIT baptism, not water baptism.
1 Cor 1:14,16 Paul water baptized some of the Corinthians himself, Paul did not "spirit baptize" them. Phillip water baptized the eunuch and did not 'spirit baptized' the eunuch. And your EPh 5:26 did not even fit showing how they were cleansed (saved).
Man accomplishes the work of
water baptism and
God accomplishes the work of
Spirit baptism. You seem to confuse these two distinct baptisms (Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:5). Ephesians 5:26 says
cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. Not by plain ordinary H20.
Nothing in Jn 3:5 indicates water is being used figuratively no more than "spirit" is being used figuratively, both are used literally.
Plain ordinary H20 has no power to cause man to become born again. As I already showed you in John 4:10, Jesus mentioned
drink and
living water. In John 4:14, Jesus mentioned
drinks, water, fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul said
..drink into one Spirit. In John 7:38-39, Jesus mentions
living water..but this He spoke concerning the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the source of living water that causes spiritual cleansing and regeneration (
born of water and the Spirit/washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit). The natural man can only seem to understand natural water (H20) here.
Paul refers to a literal laver of water in the new birth proving the new birth is not spiritual baptism but water baptism.
False. The literal laver of water is not the source or means of the new birth just as eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:53) is not the literal means (cannibalism) by which we have eternal life. 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. The new birth is spiritual and not physical. Believers are born again from above and not from plain ordinary H20.
No sense in mentioning literal water at all if it referred only to some kind of "spirit baptism". This water, laver of water is the means God has chosen to cut away the body of sin, Col 2:11,12, remit sins, Acts 2:38.
There is water baptism (picture of the reality) and Spirit baptism (the reality). This water, laver of water is the picture, not the reality. The cutting away of the body of sin is signified, yet not procured by water baptism. As Greek scholar AT Robertson points out - In the symbol of baptism the resurrection to new life in Christ is pictured with an allusion to Christ's own resurrection and to our final resurrection. Paul does not mean to say that the new life in Christ is caused or created by the act of baptism. That is grossly to misunderstand him. The Gnostics and the Judaizers were sacramentalists, but not so Paul the champion of spiritual Christianity. He has just given the spiritual interpretation to circumcision which itself followed Abraham's faith (Romans 4:10-12). Baptism gives a picture of the change already wrought in the heart "through faith" in the working of God. God had power to raise Christ from the dead and he has power to give us new life in Christ by faith. In regards to Acts 2:38, "for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical.
Acts 3:19 -
Repent therefore and
be converted, that your
sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. *What happened to baptism?
Acts 10:43 - To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever
believes in Him will receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because
the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them
speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47
"Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" *What happened to baptism in verse 43?
Acts 11:17 - If therefore God gave them the
same gift (Holy Spirit) as He gave us
when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, *BEFORE WATER BAPTISM (Acts 16:31 -
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved) who was I that I could withstand God?" 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles
repentance unto life. *What happened to baptism?
Acts 15:8 - So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by
giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made
no distinction between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith. *What happened to baptism?
Faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9). *Perfect Harmony*