You lecture me on the meaning of baptism somehow NOT being an immersion in water, then you link to a page that lays out that baptism is clearly immersion in water.
("Baptism as was commonly practiced in the New Testament church was immersion baptism. The word "baptism" comes from the Greek word "baptizo" which means to dip.")
You are right that Paul did not make it his concern to 'close' the deal with baptism. His primary calling was to preach the gospel. Even in Acts 19, it appears he simply ordered that they be re-baptized, he doesn't appear to have done the act.
You have yet to deal with any of my questions, but I'll press on anyway, like Don Quixote.
Since you will not answer whether or not baptism is necessary, riddle me this; Why did Paul re-baptize those BELIEVERS in Acts 19?
Seems odd, doesn't it? If baptism is simply an outward sign to onlookers, why would a man of Paul's understanding insist that they be re-baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Let's think *Consistent* here
***Let’s think *Consistent* here ***
Ok. From the link...
“When used in the NT, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism.”
And this is what I am trying to get across. Paul is talking of our union with Christ, not water baptism. Paul also indicates that union happened ON THE CROSS. (I am crucified with Christ).
Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into WATER were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into WATER...
But then that is not what it says, does it.
And the link I gave shows that there is a difference between bapto and baptizo. One is an in and out dipping (bapto), like all immersionist churches do.
The important one is a baptizo in which a person is PERMANENTLY immersed, or drowned, or overwhelmed IN CHRIST.
So, were you temporarily bapto’d into water? Or permantly baptizo’d into Christ. There is a difference and the later one ain’t wet.
Further more, baptizo does not always mean WATER. It can be anything that permanently changes the person or thing being placed into it. Military people often talk of their baptism by combat.
In this case I showed how the Greeks used the words to make pickles. They bapto’d the cucumber (in and out), then they permanently baptizo’d it in vinegar to make a permanent change in it as it takes on the characteristics of what it has been permanently dipped into.
For BY one Spirit are we all baptizo’d into one body, whether Jew or Greek we have all been made to drink by one SPIRIT. Again, no water mentioned.
But then lets look at another one...
Mar 7:4 And [when they come] from the market, except they wash (baptizo), they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, [as] the washing(baptismos) of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables (or couches).
So, did the Pharisees bathe every time they came from the market, by immersion. and did they also immerse their tables or couches? (or did they sprinkle them for ritual cleanliness.)