Very familiar passage!
Yes, Mom, I remember the Lord saying something about being born again of water and the spirit. Baptism! Oh, but you don't believe in sacramental effecaciousness. And please, stop judging people to hell. If there is one-one-millionth of a chance that you are wrong you nonetheless judge, and with that measure you will be measured. (and maybe found wanting)
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Rom 6:3
And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?" And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. Acts 8:36-38
Baptism in water? Efficacious? Yes!!
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
What is the test here Thomas?Is it Baptism or belief?
It was John..the forerunner of Jesus that taught Baptism for the forgivness of sins ..not Jesus
Luk 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luk 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
The apostles understood the difference
Act 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, [and] mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
Act 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
Act 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto [them], and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people,that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
What was that way? It was the one preached by the disciples ..
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
They did not preach an infused righteouness ..they preached an imparted one..