Well, I did, but not by very much. Jesus says in 3:3 that one must be "born again" or "born from above" (the Greek is ambiguous). Nicodemus, confused, asks whether one can enter a second time into his mothers' womb and be born. Jesus then says (3:5), "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God".
The idea that Jesus is giving a gynecology lesson here is preposterous, and is flatly contradicted just by the language of the verse. He doesn't say "a man must be born of his mother, and then born a second time of the Spirit". "Of water and the Spirit" is appositive to "born". Jesus is talking about one birth, which is "of water and the Spirit".
Given the context of baptism in John 1:24-34 and again in 3:22-23, to write baptism out of John 3:5 in favor of gynecology is absurd.
Agreed, that's exactly why it should be obvious that water baptism is not a critical part of the salvation process.
Everything God commands is absolutely critical.
Bad example. Marriage seals in a sacred covenant. When it comes to salvation, it's faith that claims God's promise that seals in a sacred covenant, not baptism.
You aren't responding to the analogy, Danny, just denying that it's applicable. I think it's absolutely applicable. If baptism is empty ritual, marriage is equally empty.
No, in response to Nicodemus asking about a second physical birth, Jesus contrasts one birth with the other. And then he contrasts it again, flesh from flesh and spirit from spirit.
Both John 1:24-34 and John 3:22-23 are pretty far removed from that discussion. Yes Jesus was water baptized and baptized others in water. Water baptism was/is a sign of repentance. But what Jesus is talking about with Nicodemus in 3:3 is spirit baptism. And spirit baptism occurs as a result of repentance. In John 1, John the Baptist even contrasts the two.
"Everything God commands is absolutely critical."
Not to salvation or there would be no hope for any of us. That's why Jesus died, in the first place was because we didn't do everything God commands. I don't mean to minimize His commands, he gives them for a reason, and they should be obeyed. But salvation isn't dependant on doing all that God commands.
You aren't responding to the analogy, Danny, just denying that it's applicable. I think it's absolutely applicable. If baptism is empty ritual, marriage is equally empty.
Yes I'm denying that it's applicable. It's apples and oranges. Neither marriage nor baptism are empty rituals. But Baptism is not to Salvation like marriage is to love. Marriage is a covenant in itself and seals the marriage covenant, it does not seal love.
Baptism is like coming back and performing a second marriage after the honeymoon for your relatives benefit. It does not seal the salvation experience except in the sense that it's a public testimony. The salvation covenant was sealed the moment you first said your vows (asked).
Baptism is like the kiss afterwards. A symbol and public testamony of your love which occurs after you have been pronounced man and wife.