I appreciate the humor and it takes a lot to offend me. I’ve been called names and told I was evil and so on but it doesn’t bother me.
Then we are kindred Spirits, indeed! My biological brother has made slanderous remarks about my ancestry, ROFLOL!
Yes, what JTB did was ceremonial but after Jesus became our savior, baptism took on a whole new purpose.
Agreed that baptism, per se, did take on a whole new meaning being as JTB stated, and he wasn't talking about water baptism.
If it is only ceremonial, then the bible would say so or we would have to gather from it use that is all there is to water baptism. I believe the bible tells us much about water baptism. For example, here Peter is telling us that water baptism saves us, what it does and he uses an OT example to show water saves.
1 Pt. 3:20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you -not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
He is clearly talking about water baptism in saying the 8 were brought safely through water and baptism is not a bath but an appeal.
Excellent reference, btw! Jesus also referred to said times in Matthew 24:35 KJV, Matthew 24:36 KJV, Matthew 24:37 KJV, Matthew 24:38 KJV. Jesus made no mention of being baptized in those verses. Had water baptism been a prerequisite to salvation (flesh, that is, at least), I suspect Jesus would have said so. Those eight souls were saved by water from being in the ark. Then, I see no direct reference water baptism spiritually saves anyone, the ark did, and Jesus is our ark through His resurrection. Many proponents of water baptismal spiritual regeneration suggest one utterly must be "born of water", referring to Nicodemus, in order to be "born again." May I please refer you to a few verses earlier in 1 Peter:
1Peter 1:22, 23, KJV: "22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
So, I conclude water baptism does not convey being "born again." We are "born again" 'receiving' the Holy Ghost unveiling the truth not abundantly obvious in Scripture (John 14:26 KJV). And, I'm only aware of Paul getting the 20-gig download, all fell swoop.
Also, we have in Acts 19 where Paul baptized people again who were baptized previously. They received John’s baptism but that doesn’t have Jesus blood behind it, they needed to be baptized into Jesus’ name.
Acts 19:2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
There are two baptisms being referred to here. We agree with JTB's water baptism of repentance. Here, JTB explains both baptisms:
Mark 1:6, 7, 8, KJV "6) And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7) And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8) I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
Baptism of repentance is a water baptism. Baptism 'with' the Holy Ghost is a Spiritual event. I do not hear JTB saying Jesus will baptize you with the water baptism of repentance, or of water conveying of the Holy Ghost. Receipt of the Holy Ghost is a Spiritual event, and I find no direct relationship between water and the Spirit as baptismal spiritual regeneration advocates extrapolate from Jesus' encounter with ole Nicky. Take a listen now to John 14:16 KJV, John 14:17 KJV, John 14:26 KJV. No water there. And, John 14:26 KJV are Jesus' words I suggest Peter was talking about in 1Peter 1:23 KJV being "born again... by the word of God." Via the Holy Spirit of truth (John 14:26 KJV), our minds and hearts are impacted opening our depth perception (for the lack of a better word) of the Word of God (feed my sheep was OT knowledge).
I would suggest to you being baptized (water) into Jesus’ name is how we are added to Christ. If you will notice all conversions, that have any detail, end with the convert being baptized.
I appreciate your suggestion, T6. Then, what's in Jesus 'name' besides five letters? Jesus' arrival generation was prophesied all the way back in Genesis 4:24 KJV. "Seventy and sevenfold"... Begin in Luke 3:38 KJV counting from God is generation #1, Adam generation #2, Seth #3, and so forth. Whose name shows up as the 77th generation from God, inclusively? The Jews suggest "seventy and sevenfold" spoken by Lamech, a descendant of Cain (Genesis 4:16, 17, 18), is merely an "undesignated coincidence." How do you reconcile Jesus being a descendant of Pharez, son of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar? Pharez was both born and conceived out of wedlock in a relationship contrary to Leviticus 18:15 KJV, Leviticus 20:12 KJV, Leviticus 21:7 KJV, Leviticus 21:9 KJV, Leviticus 21:13 KJV, Leviticus 21:14 KJV? The Jewish Talmud teaches Judah married Tamar in an effort to whitewash King David, also a descendant of Judah and Tamar via Pharez. But, they can't throw a little whitewash on Jesus?
See, T6... being baptized in the 'name' of Jesus is about authenticating His ancestry, His 'name', and water has no purpose in those debates. Are we simply going to tell a Jew he needs to be dunked, sprinkled, splashed, or IV infused with consecrated Catholic holy water to utterly and irrefutably know Jesus is Messiah? Well, many Jews are quite astute in the OT, unlike most Christians. Then, please explain how water is supposed to impart the irrefutable OT Scriptural truth Jesus is Messiah? We are "born again... by the word of God" (1Peter 1:23 KJV), OT included! And, the Holy Spirit plays an integral role unveiling His Word (John 14:16 KJV).
So, how about it, T6? How does water baptism open up Scripture unveiling the irrefutable and utter truth in Jesus' 'name' His ancestry? I suggest many folk are water baptized, and will get shot out of the pulpit with it comes down to authenticating Jesus 'name', His ancestry, all 77 unadulterated generations, thereof.
kayaker