John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see
the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
Jn 2 waters of purification
The "waters of purification" refer to six large stone water jars set at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, each holding about 20–30 gallons were used for
Jewish ceremonial washing. These jars were part of the
rite of purification required by Jewish law before meals or religious activities. In first-century Judaism, ritual washing was a regular practice to maintain external and symbolic purity.
Jn 3:5 born again by baptism
Pure eisegesis. The word "baptism" is not found in John 3:5.
John 4 living water.
Acts 2 repent. See post #2,834.
https://christianchat.com/threads/saved-by-faith-alone.211849/page-142#post-5777863
Acts 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water.
What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said,
“If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said,
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. *Believing unto salvation precedes water baptism.
John 20:31 - but these are written that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that
believing you may have life in His name.
This is Spirit baptism, not water baptism. For by
one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to
drink into one Spirit.
Galatians 3:26 -
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Period.) Not through faith
and water baptism. Also read
John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who
believe in His name. *Received Him, given the right to become children of God, through believing in His name, not through water baptism.
"Baptized into Christ" does not mean water baptized into the body of Christ. That is only accomplished through Spirit baptism. (
1 Corinthians 12:13) Now in what "sense" would a believer be "water baptized into Christ?" In the same "sense" that the Israelites were "baptized into Moses.." (
1 Corinthians 10:2) The Israelites were not literally water baptized into the body of Moses and there is little dispute that being "baptized into Moses" signified the open allegiance and public identification of the Israelites with Moses as their leader. Moses was formally recognized as the leader of the covenant people. Water baptism
signifies our allegiance and public identification with Christ as our Savior, so it would only be in that sense.
There is only
one baptism that saves and places us into the body of Christ and that is
Spirit baptism, not water baptism.
Ephesians 4:5 - ..one Lord, one faith,
one baptism.
1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by
one Spirit we were all baptized into
one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to
drink into
one Spirit. *Also see
John 4:10,
14;
7:37-39 for the word
drink(s) and see the
connection with the Holy Spirit.
In
1 Peter 3:21, Peter tells us that baptism now saves you, yet when Peter uses this phrase,
he continues in the same sentence to explain exactly what he means by it. He said that baptism now saves you-
not the removal of dirt from the flesh (that is, not as an outward, physical act which washes dirt from the body--that is not what saves you),
"but an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (that is, as an inward, spiritual transaction between God and the individual, a transaction that is
symbolized by the outward ceremony of water baptism).
Just as the eight people in the ark were "saved THROUGH water" as they were IN THE ARK. They were not literally saved "by" the water.
Hebrews 11:7 is clear on this point (..built an
ARK for the
SAVING of his household). *The context reveals that ONLY the righteous (Noah and his family) were DRY and therefore SAFE. In contrast,
only the wicked in Noah's day came in contact with the water and they all perished. So, by Peter saying, "not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," Peter guards against saving power to the physical ceremony in H20.
A man and a woman become united through their wedding vows and the ring
symbolizes this. Just as we become united with Christ through faith and water baptism
symbolizes this. A
symbol is not the reality but is a
picture of the reality.
