There you go yet again asking me if I was baptized as an infant when I have answered this on numerous occasions.
There are only TWO possible reasons for this:
a. You're not very bright.
b. You've run OUT of useful things to say on the topic.
In your defense, I think the latter is true.
You're also wrong about John 3:5 not being about Baptism. It couldn't be ANY clearer.
Jesus usually used tangible means to heal. He used mud to heal the blind man, He put spit on the mute's tongue, he used water to create wine, etc. He could have done ALL of these things from NOTHING but chose to use physical means to convey faith to a physical people.
The SAME is true for Baptism. Nothing "magical" about the water itself - but it is the means by which we are Baptized by God in the Spirit. God doesn't send actual "fire" down on people and we are not "set on fire" by our pastors when we are Baptized. In case you didn't know - it is a SPIRITUAL fire that occurs at Baptism.
Where did you tell me you were baptized as an infant? You keep telling me you were born-again by baptism. You want me to assume this means infant baptism. I want you to tell me if it was by infant baptism you were born again.
No, it is clear that the term 'water' is used in (John 3:5). Nothing is said of 'water baptism'. You are equating water baptism with faith. And they are not the same. You are saying water baptism is that which God uses to implement the saving of the soul, the being born-again. But that is not so. It is faith alone that causes God to move on the believers behalf. Thus you, and the Roman church I am sure, have made no distinction between water baptism and the baptism of the Spirit.
John is clear that the two are not the same. (John 1:33) "And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thous shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." One is water, one is Spirit.
Note the order Peter gives also. (Acts 10:44-48) "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word....Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" First the Spirit, then the water. The water does not cause the Spirit's work. The water comes afterward identifying the one in whom the Spirit worked. See also the same account in (11:15-17). So, yes, a spiritual fire occurs at baptism, but that is not water baptism. That is the baptism of the Spirit.
Regeneration, or our being born-again, is described as a washing. (Titus 3:5) "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" Thus (John 3:5) says, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." This act of regeneration is one act by the Holy Spirit. It is a purifying and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Thus we are born-again of water and Spirit.
Jesus made reference to the Old Testament concerning this when he told Nicodemus that he should know these things. (John 3:10 So what was Christ referring to? He was referring to (Ez. 36:24-27). "...I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean...A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you:..." This is not water baptism. This is the same one act of regeneration by which the believer is cleansed and born-again. This is the washing of regeneration.
This washing of regeneration, this being born-again by water and Spirit, is not the result of being water baptized. It is the result of faith in Christ. (John 1:12) (John 3:18) (John 4:39-42) (Acts 8:37-38) etc. etc. etc. Then comes water baptism. Thus you see how infant baptism does nothing for the infant other than get him wet. Faith in Christ must be present by the one believing and being baptized. And when it is, water baptism does have a good affect upon our salvation. (1 Peter 3:20-22) It gives us a good conscience towards God.
Stranger