Don't kid yourself, I've read Ephesians numerous times...
Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
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.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Now as one can simply see, Paul made a reference to John's baptism where people came up short...They were baptized in water just like you Catholics do but it wasn't good enough...Those people, contray to the Catholic religion had to be baptized twice...
And what does it say??? Did Paul re-dunk them into some water??? Nope...He laid his hands on them and they were then baptized with the Holy Ghost...No water...They were baptized without water...
And how do we know the Holy Spirit came upon them??? Did anyone see it??? Nope...
They spoke with tongues so people would see something internally happened to them...There wasn't a drop of water involved...Baptism does not mean water...
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you (again)??? with (water)??? Nope...(He will baptize you with) the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Well look at that...John baptized with John's baptism of water but he recognized that when God did the baptizing, it was something else...
Of course you guys don't believe that...But why would John tell you that you have to be baptized 2 times in water???
And again,
Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Now it's pretty clear that Catholics get baptized with the baptism of John...But then it's not really even the baptism of John...It's more of a forgery...
Mar 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
John's baptism was the baptism of repentance...That's certainly not the Catholic baptism, is it??? Repentance is not a requirement in your ritual, at least not for small children...
I've talked to Catholics who claim that belief in Jesus Christ is optional...As long as you get that sacrament of baptism, you're good to go...
So how does John's baptism fit in within the church age??? Here's the result of baptism in the church age...
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
When you were baptized, were you physically planted in death??? Was your body physically crucified???
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Again, was your body buried??? And then your body rose from the grave???
And how about being DEAD in your sins??? And forgiven you ALL trespasses??? Not just those that are past...
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
I tried to get you to respond to this verse recently but it apparently went so high over your head you couldn't reach it...
What's that mean to put off the body of the sins of the flesh???
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is completely Spiritual...When WE go into the water, we do not die...We are not buried...Our baptism is a Spiritual circumcision, not a physical one...
When we go into the water for baptism, it SIGNIFIES the Spiritual death and resurrection that we have gone thru...
Does that at all sound like John's baptism of repentance??? Sure doesn't...
There is so, so much in that bible that is completely foreign to you guys...You continue to post the same out of context few verses and don't have a clue what God really says about, anything...
Don’t kid yourself, I’ve read Ephesians numerous times...
just goes to show without the Holy Spirit, the natural man can’t understand spiritual matters.
When I was baptized as a baby into the Roman Catholic Church, all they did was pour some water on my head and say the "words" and it meant I was now a Christian, a Catholic Christian. The water baptism of Scripture was actually a dunking of the whole body of a person who had made a personal decision to believe in Christ and to follow Him. I never had this choice given to me but had something done to me. When I really DID come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, I was baptized again. Now, which baptism was the genuine one? Which baptism REALLY symbolized my coming to saving faith in Christ? Was I baptized into Christ and receive the Holy Spirit when the rite was performed or when I made a personal choice to receive Christ? I think Scripture is clear that it is faith that saves us and NOT acts we perform to symbolize that faith to others.