Featured Baptism method and meaning across denominations

K. I'm missing the 'water' connection you make between Heb 9 and Jn 3:5. Is this it?:

19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto 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, Heb 9

I like the YLT for Jn 3:

3 Jesus answered and said to him, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;`
5 Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the reign of God;
7 Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born from above;
8 the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit.` YLT

I waffle between 'born of water, even the Spirit'

...and

'born of water (of the word, i.e. the gospel) and the Spirit'

IMO, both of these renderings jibe with the same OT passages (like Ezek 36).

It's clear that 'born from above' and 'born of the Spirit are synonymous.

Before one can 'see' the kingdom one must first be born of the Spirit.

Before one can 'enter' the kingdom one must be born of water and the Spirit.

[add]

Water could also signify either water baptism, or, the gospel (word) from the standpoint of a profession of faith (Edersheim's view) in order to become a partaker of the benefits of the New Covenant, i.e., entering into the kingdom. (Conforming to the type of those redeemed from Egypt had to believe the gospel and act in order to enter into His rest)

 

The new covenant ordinance of baptism given to the church/kingdom coming forth or being revealed was practiced by John and the servants of Christ in the same manner as it was administered to Christ, full immersion. His example was the express evidence/pattern needed for the scriptural church to continue its practice and obey the ordinances/commandments given to it by its savior.

The true church has been promised by Christ that whatsoever they ask in his name in the context of the edifying of the body of Christ as a kingdom/nation he would give it/show it/reveal it to them. (Jn 14:13) (Eph 3:10) Also reference Gen 18:17-19)

The ordinance of baptism was initiated to bring the old covenant brethren into the new covenant just as the individual is brought into covenant relationship with the church. It was evidence of repentance from the dead works taught by the Pharisees, Sadducees, etc. By entering into the new covenant, they would have/show evidence of a clear conscience toward God knowing that only the blood of Christ, and not of bulls and goats, could take away sins.

What of any of the above can an infant do, know, be a witness of or repent from?

The little ones are "of such" or "likened to." This verse is speaking of the apostles as babes in Christ who could only take the milk and not the meat concerning the new covenant/kingdom of God and does not mean 4 or 5 year olds doing the will of the Father

 

I know.

 

Catholic hogwash

 

HERESY

 

That depends on what you mean by early.

 

Early issues included:

the Canon

Baptism (discussed here in many threads)

Gnosticism (I John, Colossians)

Sola Fide (Galatians and Romans)

the Resurrection of the body (I Corinthians, Romans, and I Thess)

actually, these and many other issues are discussed in more Biblical books than I mentioned

 

Correction, by BIBLICAL standards.

 

Actually, there is not one instance of infant baptism in the NT or early church, including the Didache. Thus, infant baptism is a mere "tradition of men".

 

And how is this biblical?