What does the Bible tell you about water baptism?
I will not deny you the privilege and honor of opening God’s Word and seeking for yourself as you were commanded to do! Be thankful we have THE WORD OF GOD and able to learn TRUTH for ourselves and not by man but by The Spirit of God!
“What does the Bible tell you about water baptism?”
It tells me it has no connection with salvation, but is symbolic of the spiritual reality of the baptism and infilling of the Holy Spirit, called the greater of the two by John the Baptist. It is an act of obedience after conversion (not done on infants), showing one’s outward conviction to serve God. As an example o this, here is Cornelius and his entire family being baptized by the Holy Spirit prior to water baptism:
Acts 10
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
That it was required as the first rite to be performed when a priest was inducted into his office. Exodus 29:4. Under the Old Covenant God made with Israel. They were to be a NATION OF PRIESTS, and an HOLY NATION. "And ye shall be unto Me a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, and an HOLY NATION. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL (Ex. 19:5,6)l. Until the whole nation of Israel obeyed God's voice, only certain people in Israel were set apart as priests, but in connection with the coming of Messiah and the conversion of ALL ISRAEL, God later promised that they ALL would become a WHOLE NATION OF PRIESTS, through whom the Gentiles would approach God: "But YE shall be named the PRIESTS OF THE LORD: men shall call you THE MINISTERS OF OUR GOD" (Isa. 61:6).
So, water baptism was performed under the Mosaic law whereby the priests and those ceremonially "unclean" were both washed, or baptized. Therefore, under the kingdom program, the Jews and the "unclean" Gentiles alike HAD to be baptized. (Matt. 28:19).
Which brings us forward to John the Baptist and the "Kingdom of Heaven is AT HAND". First, John's baptism was associated with the manifestation of Christ. "And I knew him not: But that He should be MADE MANIFEST TO ISRAEL, THEREFORE am I come BAPTIZING WITH WATER" (John 1:31). John baptized the people "for the remission of sins". That is plainly stated. This was NOT changed after the resurrection of Christ, for at Pentecost Peter offered Christ's return and the times of refreshing TO ISRAEL, calling upon them to "repent and be baptized...FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS" (Acts 2:38). This was done in strict obedience to the commission given to Peter by the risen Lord, in which He expressly stated that "He that believeth and IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED" (Mark 16:16).
So far, we KNOW, according to God's Word, that the message of John, our Lord (Matt.4:17), His twelve apostles (Matt:10:5-7) was REPENT and BE BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. And it was proclaimed by John, Christ, and the 12 to ISRAEL. Because the "KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WAS AT HAND (Matt. 3:2), and ISRAEL WAS TO BECOME A NATION OF PRIESTS to the whole world, thus the necessity to be baptized, washed, cleansed. The proclamation of this message and its results are what the "Four Gospels" record. It had been predicted, expected and was now proclaimed "at hand". The provision for ISRAEL to become this NATION OF PRIESTS had been made in Exodus, as I've already shown you.
So now, we are up to Pentecost. Still dealing with Israel, still waiting for them to repent, be baptized, turn to God, whereby Christ would return and set up His Messianic Kingdom, with Israel as His priests to the Gentiles.
So far, are you with me?