You think BOL is right , you never heard of it raining. He's right according to you who has been squabbling with him on major obvious points, but he's right on one you know nothing about? Well it is reverse day it seems.
WATER BAPTISM:
There is much debate and discussion concerning the proper application of baptism. Primarily the PROTESTANTS have a problem with all forms outside of immersion. I find that funny, reason being these same protestants will also say , water baptism is not a necessary part of salvation. To them it is simply a work of the flesh. They have much of the same argument toward the Eucharist, Anyway, that is rubbish! The works of the flesh are just that, works done before you believe in Jesus Christ-our Grace, Mercy and salvation. The bible addresses two types of works ;( Faith and Works), and (works outside of the faith) which non believers perform, they can not save a man no matter how good they appear. Any work done outside of Christ in whom God the Father has given for us to know Him, is outside of the grace in salvation.
Sprinkling Water
Numbers 19:13
'Anyone who touches a corpse, the body of a man who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD; and that person shall be cut off from Israel Because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is still on him.
Any other religion today is considered a corpse , and the sprinkling of water (IN FAITH) will cleanse of that impurity.
Hebrews 9:19
For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
For today the faithful do not use the blood of animals but those saved in the BLOOD OF THE LAMB sprinkle the purifying waters of FAITH upon the people in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
It is funny how protestants will say concessions are made if there is no water. But water available for sprinkling none is made. They gag at gnats and swallow camels.
Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Numbers 19:18
'A clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent and on all the furnishings and on the persons who were there, and on the one who touched the bone or the one slain or the one dying naturally or the grave.
The clean person is the one ANOINTED by the Christ in the order of Melchizedek and they may baptize through sprinkling, pouring and immersion. All three are acceptable applications . NO (application), is the only thing rejected. All God's words come back to Him fruitful. Even if there is no water God will provide for He is no hypocrite and what He says he upholds.
Isaiah 55:10-12
…10For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it. 12You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.…
Two arguments for water baptism not being a necessary part of salvation by protestants: the thief on the cross and that some received the Holy Spirit before water baptism. First: since it is clear that God is no hypocrite and His word comes back to Him prosperous , God provided the water for the thief on the cross. When Christ's side was pierced both blood and water spewed forth and a tempest rose and great rain storm and earth quake which the graves gave up the dead! ALL men were baptized BY GOD in this rain at Christ completed work on the cross. Those who died before Christ's coming and the thief on the cross received this anointing cleansing water. GOD WORD IS BOND and is TRUST WORTHY AND TRUE!
The oldest biblical reference to the crucifixion darkness is found in the Gospel of Mark, written around the year 70. In its account of the crucifixion, on the eve of Passover, it says that after Jesus was crucified at nine in the morning; darkness fell over all the land, or all the world (Greek: γῆν, translit. gēn can mean either) from around noon ("the sixth hour") until 3 o'clock ("the ninth hour").It adds, immediately after the death of Jesus, that "the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom".
The Gospel of Matthew has an almost identical wording: "From noon on, darkness came over the whole land [or, earth] until three in the afternoon." The author includes dramatic details, including an earthquake and the raising of the dead, which were also common motifs in Jewish apocalyptic literature: "The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised."
Further verses which support sprinkling,
Ezekiel 36:25
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
Numbers 8:7
"Thus you shall do to them, for their cleansing: sprinkle purifying water on them, and let them use a razor over their whole body and wash their clothes, and they will be clean. I know protestants would hope Catholics throughout the centuries would not have a legit baptism but they do. Legit doctrine is a must and must not be based on hatred toward a brother, and a denial of their actions in faith.
As for those who received the Holy Spirit anointing of fire in the form of tongues before water baptism, that happened as a proof from God to convince Peter and the Jews that the gentile too was worthy to be part of the house of Israel . After Peter said "can anyone refuse the water to baptize these people". God had to give the Jews a little push because Peter was a Jew for the Jews and wanted to reject the gentile's admission as did the other Jews with Peter , but God said not so! "They who were not my people shall be My people , and in the very place where it is said they are NOT a people, they shall be called the Son's of God! " They who are not , will be- and God shall call them His Beloved.
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit Acts 10:46-48
…46For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.…
POINT: water baptism is necessary, and God expect obedience to this. And it is more than taking a bath, if it weren't then all bath taking would be sanctifying. It is prompted by the Holy Spirit and in the Holy Spirit and is righteous obedience to God the Father, making us friends of God.
POURING WATER: Isaiah 44:3
'For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants;
We are the thirsty land and ground which needs blessing.
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
Genesis 35:14
Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.
1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
Ephesians 2:22
And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
In Christ ,and God in us, we are the the temple of God and the cleansing water is upon us. Upon us is poured the drink offering and anointing oil.
You are God's Temple 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
16Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.…
Joel 2:28
"It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.
His Spirit is in both water and fire, That is why John came baptizing in the holy Spirit. The deeper refinement come with fire and that engraves God's name upon the head/mind.
Isaiah 12:3
3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
To draw water is to use a container and then you would pour it out.
Then there is IMMERSION obviously an acceptable means of baptism , if a tub or lake , or river be available do it.
POINT : ALL MEANS ARE ACCEPTABLE AND THIEF ON THE CROSS WAS BAPTIZED.