WRONG.
Matt. 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the WATER. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the SPIRIT of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
THIS is the "Water and Spirit" that Jesus is talking about in John 3:5 - the Water and Spirit of BAPTISM.
As for MY Baptism - I have explained it to you ad nauseam - and EVERY time you want to veer attention away from your losing argument - you ask me about it yet again. I'm not playing your games anymore. You know ALL about my Baptism.
As for Peter and Cornelius - here's a little hermeneutical advice for you:
NEVER base your doctrines on an exception. The few exceptions in the NT such as the Baptism of Cornelius and his entire household were to further the Gospel message.
NOWHERE does it speak of ANY of the 3000 or so who were Baptized at Pentecost being indwelt with the Holy Spirit PRIOR to Baptism. In fact - Peter gives the chronological order explicitly:
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. AND you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
He doesn't say, "NOW that you are filled with the Holy Spirit - it's time to be Baptized."
Finally - as to the water - I have already explained to you that the water is just water. There is nothing "miraculous" or "magical" about the water.
It is simply the tangible means of the conferring of the Holy Spirit.
The NT ALSO talks about conferring the Holy Spirit on people by the laying of hands. Is there something "supernatural" or "magical" about hands?? NO.
It is simply the MEANS by which God has prescribed His healing.
Read James 5:14 about praying over the sick. It says to "anoint" them with oil. Is there something "supernatural" or "magical" about the oil?? NO.
It is simply the MEANS by which God had prescribed His healing.
YOUR problem is disobedience.
Good luck with that . . .
No. You confuse three different baptism. The baptism of John. The baptism of Christ. The believers baptism. You say not to use an 'exception' yet you choose the greatest exception of all, the baptism of Christ. Christ was baptized into Johns baptism of repentance but did not need to repent. (Matt. 3:13-14)
Though the Holy Spirit had not yet descended the believers were still believers. They already had faith and were the children of God. Once the Holy Spirit has come at Pentecost then upon believing in Christ they receive the Holy Spirit. They are then water baptized with the believers baptism. This period of time at Pentecost is unique as it contains believers who were alive under the Old Covenant and alive then under the New Covenant.
(Acts 2:38) is addressed specifically to Israel. (Acts 2:22,36) The call is the same to 'Repent and be baptized' which is the same as the gospel of the Kingdom. (Matt. 3:2) (Matt. 4:17) But Israel did not repent. She rejected Christ. Now many ask Peter what will we do now? To which he replied, 'Repent and be baptized' only now it would be in the name of the Lord Jesus. For the promise was to Israel and her descendants, (Acts 2:39). This is the promise I showed you in (Ez. 36:25-27) But even here, the idea of 'repenting' already shows a belief on the one repentings part.
Yes, water is just water. But water baptism does play a role as showed you. (1 Peter 3:20-21). It is not that which brings one who is lost to a justified state. Faith, belief, alone does that, as I also showed you in post # (914). Water baptism brings one a good conscience before God.
Your problem is you are using water as that which God implements to save a lost soul. And it is not water but faith that God implements to save the lost soul. Once He sees the faith, then one is born-again. Just because one is baptized in water does not make him born-again. Thus no infant is every born-again, as he has not the faith. Thus there are many who are 'water baptized' who are not believers.
Stranger