I find enough scriptures to support both thoughts and so, I am confused.
In Genesis 1 is the account of the creation of MAN and WOMAN; but it's also in ch2. It's a LITERARY VEHICLE, "the TWICE-TOLD-TALE". In John3, verse 6 is not SEPARATE from verse 5, it is TWICE-TOLD-TALE. Thus, "water" in verse 5, is the Greek "HUDOR" ---
water-as-the-fundamental-element --- FLESH.
Verse 5 says "born of FLESH and SPIRIT"
Verse 6 says "born of FLESH and SPIRIT".
Twice-told-tale.
Realize that "baptizo" means "to IMMERSE". In Matt3:11, there is:
1. Immersion in WATER
2. Immersion into the SPIRIT
3. Immersion of FIRE for SINNERS.
We know that "baptize with fire" means "Hell", because of verse 12 --- TWICE-TOLD-TALE! Verse 12 TELLS us what verse 11 means! JUST as John3:6 TELLS us what verse 3:5 means!
Now, in Romans 6 Paul labors to convey the substance of "BORN AGAIN". We are:
1. IMMERSED in CHrist.
2. BURIED with Christ.
3. UNITED with Christ.
4. CRUCIFIED with Christ.
There is NO WAY to "lever" BAPTIZO outta context and make it WATER; it is immersion into JESUS and not into WATER.
To "solve" the
waterbaptism-thing, look at Cornelius & family, Acts 10. According to Acts 11:15 they "received the Spirit JUST AS THE APOSTLES had". 11:17 they "believed and RECEIVED THE SAME GIFT AS THE APOSTLES."
They were SAVED --- but not yet WATER-BAPTIZED.
RE salvation --- those who say "there are some ELECT, chosen by GOD" --- I respectfully say that Scripture CONTRADICTS that entire dogma.
Salvation is UNIVERSAL in availability (many verses on request --- ask me if you're interested). PREDESTINED-ELECTION says "atonement is LIMITED".
Each man is depraved; but each man (and woman) is drawn by Jesus to where he/she CAN receive Christ; this is NOT a "man-work"; it is rather
the OPPOSITE of work, it is SURRENDER to Jesus. (Many verses on request)
Salvation is BELIEVING; but it is so much more. Jesus said "BELIEVE" (Jn3:16, 6:40); but Jesus said "REPENT" (Lk13:3), "humble yourselves as children" (Matt18:3-4), "DO God's will" (Matt7:21), and "be BORN AGAIN" (Jn3:3);
each of those is written as:
"Unless you _______, you will NOT go to Heaven."
It is the BORN AGAIN, under which all the others reside.
FAITH-TO-SALVATION, is BELIEF-TO-SALVATION;
belief comes from our OWN HEARTS (Rom10:10, 6:17, Acts2:37 "smitten in conscience").
Belief SAVES; unbelief CONDEMNS. (Jn3:18,Mk16:16) Because BELIEF comes from US (see Rm10:17, 2Tim3:15), we can be DECEVED by SIN into UNBELIEF (1Tim4:1, Heb3:12-14, James1:14-16). A TRULY-SAVED-PERSON (2Pet2:18, "ontos-apopheugo-TRULY-ESCAPED") can become "entangled in world's defilements and overcome, and worse than BEFORE he was saved" (2Pet2:20-22).
Thus DILIGENCE is required (2Pet1:10, 3:24 & 17; Heb6:11, 10:36; 2Jn1:7-9 etc).
Diligence to "buiild ourselves in our holy faith, praying in the Spirit, KEEP OURSELVES in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of Christ to eternal life". Jd21
Keeping ourselves in Jesus is NOT a work; it is ABIDING IN HIM. Jesus says, in Jn15: "Abide in Me, and I in you. ANyone who does NOT abide is cast off as a branch ...and is burned."