And the point that I am making is that baptism has the power to save a person who believes.
Again, plain ordinary H20 has no power to save.
I would point also out that in the gospel of Luke, the scribes and Pharisees had a hard time believing because they had not received the baptism of John (Luke 7:29-30).
Luke 7:29 - When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they justified God/acknowledged God's justice,
(signified by) having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves,
(signified by) not having been baptized by John. Baptism did not magically make them become disciples of John but their decision to become disciples of John was
signified in baptism. Becoming a disciple of John was a
heart decision that they made prior to becoming water baptized. Believing precedes water baptism.
Acts 15:7-9 is referring back to what had happened in Acts 10; where Peter made an apt statement; "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Ghost even as we?"
They believed, received the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues and were saved PRIOR to receiving water baptism.
You do not seem to be wanting to forbid water; but you do seem to be attempting to dissuade the believer from receiving the effect of the water.
There is no effect/nothing mystical from the water. Spirit baptism is the reality and water baptism is the picture of the reality.
Baptism is identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Identification is a good word to use. Water baptism signifies our allegiance and public identification with Christ as our Savior.
1 Corinthians 1:17, yes.
Paul had baptized none but Crispus and Gaius, in verse 14. However, you must realize that this was Corinth; and if you do your homework you will find that there were many who were baptized through Paul's ministry in Corinth (see Acts of the Apostles 18:8). Therefore I conclude that Paul took a similar practice concerning baptism as did Jesus in John 4:2.
That many were baptized is not the point. Paul said that Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel. If water baptism was actually a part of the gospel, then Paul would not have made such a statement.
Again, baptism in Jesus' Name is identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is a symbol of salvation in that it pictures Christ's death, burial and resurrection and our identification with Him in this experience. In reality, believers are literally saved by what baptism symbolizes, which is Christ's death, burial and resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Acts 2:38 stands as a conditional promise by which a man can receive absolutely the promise of the Holy Ghost. It is not about ritual but a point of contact for faith so that a man can receive the promised Holy Ghost by fulfilling the condition to a promise found in holy scripture.
Faith precedes baptism and we are saved through faith. I already explained Acts 2:38. Also consider Acts 3:19; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; 26:18. *Scripture must harmonize with Scripture.*