But don’t you see what you’re saying, my friend?
Let’s take your three examples, and see if your logic holds up. You say (and please, correct me if I’m misrepresenting you!) that:
A person doesn’t get into the “remission of sins” state by being baptized.
By the same logic, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus didn’t get into Egypt by fleeing.
And the tree doesn’t get into the fire by being cast there.
Hmm, it appears something’s wrong with your logic. :-)
Because John the baptizer said the tree DOES get in the fire by being cast there, Matthew said Joseph and his wife and child DID get into Egypt by fleeing there, and Peter said sinners DO get into “remission of sins” by being baptized.
You’re right: the fire existed before the tree was cast into it. But the tree certainly wasn’t in it yet.
And you’re right: Egypt existed before Joseph took his family and fled there. But they certainly weren’t in it yet.
And you’re right: “remission of sins” exists before the sinner is baptized. But he certainly isn’t in it yet.
The fire won’t burn the tree that isn’t in it. And Egypt wouldn’t be a safe haven if Joseph and his family weren’t in it. And the “remission of sins” state won’t save anyone who isn’t in it.
Yeah I figured you might try something like that. It’s called human logic or wisdom. You must have forgotten that the Greek word we are discussing is a Preposition not a verb. There is no action taking place. The point in that verse is that the forgiveness already happened. Now if you want to continue believing that an action on man’s part somehow procures the remission of sin I don’t suppose anything is going to change your mind. In that case I suppose you can claim a right to forgiveness because you were baptised. I would remind you however of Paul’s words “Not of works, lest any man should boast”.