To me water baptism was only a foreshadowing —> pointing to—-> buried with Jesus in the putting off of the old man, and having been raised up with Christ in newness of Life, putting on of the New Man.
See how the action of going under the water and coming up New …speaks of buried and raised up New. But the foreshadowing is not able to make any New …but it’s a story foretelling of what God does in the Spirit. The only One that is able to make one New and reconciled unto God is the Being crucified with Jesus Christ —buried and lifted up of God into Life Anew.
We see all the “symbols” but the symbols tell of something Greater. Like where Jesus Christ said I only do what I see my Father doing, and I only say what I hear My Father saying..God is Spirit.
So consider when Jesus Christ healed physically…did Jesus heal physically to show or reveal what His Father—the Father of spirits was doing “Spiritually healing”? Same with the temple made with hands or the Temple made without hands…why go back to water baptism thinking it makes one perfect instead of “buried and lifted up with Him”? Same with animal sacrifices or the Lamb of God …? Why did God despise their animal sacrifices? Pronouncing “I’m sick of your sacrifices”?
The study of symbols and rituals in the ancient world gives a lot of insight to the Bible.
You are right that the Water Baptism point to the death and burial and resurrection of Christ.
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ Acts 22:16
What Does the Bible Say About Baptism?
Words and symbols were very important for understanding in the ancient world. In the ancient world Christianity was both unique and complex, but the process of salvation was simple….do and believe if you want to be saved. There was no discussion on the option of “do it your own way."
But everyone is free to do their own way and see how it turns out.
Does anything matter? A lot of people question if anything matters.
What is faith?
Does Faith matter?
Does Faith have power? Or is it just an opinion?
What does belief mean?
Is Faith necessary for Salvation?
What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?
What does the Bread and Wine Ritual mean?
What does the Bread and Wine Ritual do?
Is the Bread and Wine Ritual necessary for Salvation?
What does Water Baptism mean?
What does Water Baptism do?
What is Spiritual Baptism? You just think about it?
Is it necessary for Salvation?
What is Christian morality?
Is it really necessary for Salvation?
Does anything mean anything?
And really can we comprehend the totality of the spiritual effects of all these things? If not….is it just more correct and wiser to simply do and believe what Christ and the Apostles said to do?
And what did the Apostles say to those that preached something different?
Galatians 1:6-9 says, 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9
As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Galatians 1:8 says, "But should we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed". 2nd Corinthians 11:4 says, "For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough"
