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What I observe logically is in Acts, which shows us what believers in Jesus Christ did in action, was after saving faith and receiving the Holy Spirit, they get in the water and are water baptized. I also see it as an act of obedience, but one done very soon after spiritual regeneration--being born again/above. I see water baptism as a proclamation we are making identifying us as a disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Some add the term "sealed" and I understand what that means.

One must look past the Greek 'baptism' and see Mikvah.

A mikvah is performed to ritually cleanse oneself:
A mikvah is performed to adopt a gentile into national Israel.
A mikvah is performed when one enters into the discipleship of a rabbi.
A mikvah is performed in order to enter the Temple grounds.
A mikvah is performed in the ordination of a priest.
A mikvah is performed at the initiation of a life changing vow or ministry.

We are cleansed by the shed blood of Christ.
We are not to become part of national Israel but are jointheirs.
We are disciples of Christ and baptized with the Holy Spirit.
We do not enter the temple we ARE the temple.
We don’t have priests we ARE priests.
The shed blood of Christ washes us clean and the Holy Spirit changes us from within.

We are not Jews and are not to presume we have replaced the nation of Israel.

A mikvah is performed to ritually cleanse oneself: A mikvah is performed to adopt a gentile into national Israel. A mikvah is performed when one enters into the discipleship of a rabbi. A mikvah is performed in order to enter the Temple grounds. A mikvah is performed in the ordination of a priest. A mikvah is performed at the initiation of a life changing vow or ministry.

Great info. Overlay the above with the epistle of Hebrews and it matches.