[CynicalBear]

>>The response is, is it true that water and a blessing can wash away the sins committed by a man?<<

No it can't. Only the blood of Jesus can wash away sin.

[avenir]

“Only the blood of Jesus can wash away sin.”

Amen! And His blood DOES!

Baptism is interesting. I cannot solve its seeming mystery, but I find it interesting that Paul didn’t want to be associated with it. In Colossians 2 he also precedes a mention of our baptism into Christ with this:

“In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ”

Without hands. Hmmm. I’m guessing the baptism Paul is here speaking of is without water? If the lesser—the shadow of circumcision with hands—gave way to the greater—the circumcision of Christ, made without hands—wherefore water baptism?

At any rate, just below this Paul states that God in Christ has forgiven ALL our sins. Many who teach baptismal regeneration do NOT accept this. Colossians is a powerful antidote to dead religion of ANY kind!