It is commanded of believers. Yes, but that is not a reason we are to be baptized. Believers are commanded to keep the Apostolic Tradition, and look how many today reject it but privately interpreting the Scriptures. NO ONE was ever told in the Scriptures to be baptized as an act of obedience.
Is a testimony for others. Again, no one was ever told to be baptized as a testimony to others. Who was Paul standing before when he was baptized to wash away his sins? What about the eunuch in Acts, who was his baptism a testimony to?
Biblically, we are baptized to:
1. Remit sins
2. Receive the Holy Spirit
3. Be placed into Christ.
Once the Biblical reasons for baptism were rejected in the 16th century, other reasons had to be invented for baptism, hence obedience and public testimony.
I am willing to read any Scriptures you can provide where anyone was told to be baptized out of obedience or as a testimony. I have never come across any such verses, and I suspect neither have you.
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>> “Believers are commanded to keep the Apostolic Tradition” <<
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The apostles preached only Torah (”the teaching” as Irenaeus called it) and the resurrection of Yeshua.
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‘It is commanded of believers. Yes,’
You can either obey or not. Your call.
“Is a testimony for others. Again, no one was ever told to be baptized as a testimony to others.”
I did not say we do it to be a testimony to others. Our baptism is a testimony to others. If it were not, we would baptize ourselves.
“Who was Paul standing before when he was baptized to wash away his sins? What about the eunuch in Acts, who was his baptism a testimony to?”
At least to the one who baptized them and to all they told. Clearly, they told or we would not know.
“Biblically, we are baptized to:
1. Remit sins
2. Receive the Holy Spirit
3. Be placed into Christ.”
No.
No.
No.
You confuse Baptism in/with/by the Holy Spirit with water baptism. Catholicism is not the only denomination to make this error.
“Once the Biblical reasons for baptism were rejected in the 16th century, other reasons had to be invented for baptism, hence obedience and public testimony.”
Ha. Oh, contraire.