Let m explain.
Romans 6 is a detailed experience about all that happened at out conversion, by faith. If one makes water baptism essential, as part of the equation of salvation, the born again experience in 6, then he has mandated water babtism, to be saved, for the rom 6
experience to work. In other words, no water, no being saved, because he has made water an essential element in the equation, that is supposed to be all by faith.
If one listens to may view, and sees that it is about
being united, in him, then one does not need water, it is all about the spiritual experience, it is all by faith, not by adding a work, as part of our salvation event, detailed in the Rom 6 experience, definition.
One has a work in it, one does not, mine is all by faith, his is adding a work to be saved. Think about it, he says 6 is water, so one can't be raised up, and UNITED, unless he is water baptized.
The baptism in Romans 6 was in response to a command:
The Roman Christians had previously been obedient to this command:
"you have come to obey" (Rom 6:17)
thereby being made free from sin (6:17-18).
Water baptism is a command, as in (Acts 2:38; 10:48; Matt 28:18-20).
Spirit baptism is never commanded.
Therefore, in context, Romans 6 is clearly referring to water baptism, and not Spirit baptism.
We are baptised into Jesus' death.
Someone needs to baptises us into Jesus' death. This can only refer to water baptism.
Romans 6:3-4 Or dont you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
The symbolism is that when we go down into the watery grave of baptism, this is the point at which we participate in Jesus' death and burial. We die to our sins, and are baptised in water.
When we come up out of the water, we are participating in Jesus' resurrection. We rise in new life and are born again.
This symbolism would not make sense if it were referring to Spirit baptism.
Paul is talking about the kind of baptism he received - he uses the words "us" and "we"
Romans 6:3-4 "Or dont you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism..."
Pauls baptism in Damascus was in water (cf. Acts 22:16), therefore Romans 6 is referring to his water baptism.
In our "resurrection", we "emerge" or "come out" of something.
Rom 6:5 - "in a resurrection like his". When Jesus was resurrected, he came out of the tomb.
If Rom 6:5 is referring to Spirit baptism it would have to mean you come out of the Holy Spirit and leave it behind.
If this is referring to water baptism, it means you come up out of the water.
Spirit baptism is nolonger present today.
It was associated with the miraclous gifts of the Holy Spirit and served it's first-century purpose (Acts 2 and 10) - to prove that what the apostles was saing was true. "Tongues will be stilled" (1 Cor 13:8)
Water baptism on the other hand is to continue to the end of the Christian age (Matthew 28:20).
The argument that Romans 6 is talking about Spirit baptism is a relatively recent invention, and was used by Walvoord and Zuck in 1983. Upon careful study, it is clearly seen to be false.
Are you are implying that baptism is a work? You need to submit to be baptised by someone else. They are the ones doing the "work".
If you are going to categorize baptism as a work, then don't forget that belief and faith are works. John 6:29 "Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
The false doctrine of "faith only" was invented during the reformation in the 15th century as was an overreaction to the works oriented doctrine of the Catholic church. It is not part of the earliest writings of the church during the first few centuries.
The biblical pattern of salvation is as follows:
- Hear the word / or see a miracle in the time of Jesus.
- believe / have faith / Accept the word (the Good News - that there is a way to be saved)
- Repent of your sins
- Get baptised, at which point you receive 2 things:
- forgivness of sins (salvation)
- the internal dwelling of the Holy Spirit (not associated with miraculous gifts).
The problem with believe only, is that the demons believe, and they aren't saved, so there must be more to it.
James 2:9 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
Some of the major events of the NT and the connection with water:
Birth of Jesus -
God's son comes to us through the birth waters.
God chose to do it way. He could have just let Jesus descend down to earth.
John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus -
by introducing a baptism of repentance
Jesus first miracle involved water
John 2: 7-11 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
Jesus calls His first disciples -
Matthew 4:18-22 (Simon and Andrew's job involved water - they were fishermen.)
Jesus talks to Nicodemus about salvation
John 3: 1-5 "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."
Jesus heals the blind man, by telling him to wash in the water
John 9: 1-7 "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing."
End of Jesus' ministry, and the Great Commission given to the Apostles
Matt 28:18-20 - go make disciples, baptizing them.
Jesus death
Romans 3 and 6 - His blood washes away our sins.
The start of the Church
Act 2:38 - be baptised for the forgiveness of sins.
The Gentiles now eligible for salvation also, so Peter "ordered that they be baptized".
Acts 10:45-47 - The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues
and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 "Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water."
The "believers" believed Jesus and the apostles when they were told to be baptized, "for the forgiveness of your sins".
The vast majority of the "faith only" verses are written to believers that are already saved, and in essence are saying - "keep believing, and you will stay saved". They do not teach unbelievers how to be saved.
In order to find out how someones sins are forgiven in the first place, you need to look at verses written to non-believers, and about making disciples.
End of Jesus' ministry, and the Great Commission given to the Apostles
Matt 28:18-20 - go and make disciples, baptizing them...
The start of the Church
Act 2:38 - be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
The Gentiles now eligible for salvation also, so Peter "ordered that they be baptized".
Acts 10:45-47 - The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 "Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water."
Yes, the vast majority of the verses on salvation speak of "faith only". These verses are written to believers that are already saved, and in essence are saying - "keep believing, and you will stay saved". They do not teach unbelievers how to be saved. It would not make sense to tell baptised believers to "get baptised for the forgiveness of your sins". It is crucial however to encourage Christians to stay faithful, and to keep believing.
Also, in the book of Acts when people were being saved, it does not mention baptism at every point - it summarises by referring to a part which represents the whole. The language technique is called synecdoche, and is explained here: bebaptized[DOT]org/important.htm