It’s not a *tradition of men*, it’s a common sense plain reading of the passage.
It’s really stretching to make it mean baptism. All it is is justification to claim that baptism is necessary for salvation.
Well, if baptism saves, then Jesus died for nothing. All we’d have to do is get baptized.
Plain reading?
Jesus had to promptly let the man know that he was not referring to the first birth at any time. Putting that notion to rest by saying, “That which is flesh is flesh”. In clarifying his testamony to him, he didn’t say “that which is water is flesh”.
Let’s go..., “To the saints and faithful brethern in Christ which are at Colosse...” (Col. 1:2)
“Buried with him in baptism.,.” (surely referring to water) ...”, wherein also..” (ALSO) “..ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God,...” (Spirit baptism) “...who hath raised him from the dead.” Col. 2:12
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you of your trespasses;” Col. 2:13
And that is quite similar to what Paul told those in Rome, “beloved of God, called to be saints:...” (Rom. 1:7):
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Rom. 6:3-5