Wow, you took what is Simple, and made it COMPLICATED. Welcome aboard, to a Catholic Brother in Christ. However, I will show you the Simplicity that is in the CHRIST.
The Baptism that HE refers to, is NOT WATER BAPTISM. Immersion is not limited to water, but rather when one is Immersed into the Spiritual Body of Christ, THAT IS THE BAPTISM THAT SAVES. The IMMERSION that SAVES, IS NOT Christian Water Baptism, how do I know:
1 Peter 3:20-21 (HCSB)
20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people—were saved through water.
21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (HCSB)
12 For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Ephesians 4:4-7 (HCSB)
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah’s gift.
ALL have been IMMERSED by the HOLY SPIRIT, into the SPIRITUAL BODY OF CHRIST. AND ALL Certainly includes the Thief on the Cross.
How do I know we have to be IMMERSED into the Spiritual Body of Christ?
Romans 6:3-4 (ESV)
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
1 Corinthians 1:9 (HCSB)
9 God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Galatians 3:26-27 (NASB)
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
No, Water Baptism DOES NOT SAVE, but Spiritual Baptism into the Spiritual Body of Christ, DOES SAVE, the Moment you first BELIEVE.
Yes, Water Baptism is important, and should be one of our First Steps in Our Walk of OBEDIENCE, AFTER you were REALLY BORN AGAIN, that happened as the moment you first Believed.
I had better explain what BORN AGAIN actually means.
I came to Christ, Mourning over my utter sinfulness. I mourned for hours as guilt ridden wave after wave washed over me about my whole lifestyle. I was begging Him to FORGIVE ME, over and over again. I was prone face down on my bedroom floor about 5:00 in the morning; and I had the MOST VIVID DREAM or only Vision I ever had. I was on my KNEES at the foot of the Cross Begging HIM to forgive me, and every sin I ever committed was like another one pound weight pulling down on HIS arms; and there were so many of them. I NOTICED THE NAILS WERE THROUGH HIS WRISTS, EVEN THOUGH EVERY PICTURE THAT I EVER SAW, THEY WERE IN HIS PALMS. (Years later I learned that Jews consider the Wrists to be part of the Hand, and that is the only place where the Nails would not pull through HIS flesh.) I looked up with my arms raised, through my tearing eyes, and I saw blood drop from each of HIS wrists. It splashed on my forearms, and I could FEEL the warmth of that blood, and I KNEW I WAS FORGIVEN.
That is where the Dream or Vision ended. KNOWING THAT HIS BLOOD FORGAVE ME. BUT IN THAT INSTANT, the HOLY SPIRIT CAME INTO MY HEART, HE instantly birthed my dead human Spirit into Eternal Life, as HE immersed my body into the spiritual body of Christ, and HE poured GOD's LOVE into my Heart.
Romans 5:5 (HCSB)
5 This hope will not disappoint ⌊us⌋, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
No I am not saying that Dreams or a Visions, will be the norm, but Evidence of having your once dead human spirit, coming to eternal life, WILL BE THE NORM; and that happens from day one on. I knew there was something DIFFERENT in me. I had a total TRUST in JESUS, that was not their before, the Hunger for HIS WORD, and PEACE WITH GOD, are the first things that I noticed. Then as I got GOD's Word IN ME, it began to change me from the inside out. I used to curse worse than anybody; the after getting into the WORD for a few weeks, I hid my thumb with a hammer, and all that came out of my mouth was "Dog Gone It!" Also about that same time, I KNEW God wanted me to quit smoking, but I actually argued with GOD, "Why should I quit, as long as I enjoy it?" Then one morning I sat up in bed, lit my first cigarette of the day, AND IT TASTED HORRIBLE! Then the thought went through my head, "What's your excuse now DUMMY!" That was my last cigarette, from a pack and a half a day, to ZERO.
No my infant baptism did not SAVE ME, BUT the Holy Spirit immersing me into the Spiritual Body of Christ, IS THE BAPTISM THAT DID SAVE ME. The Bible that once was the most boring book I owned, became the most exciting book I could read. I was Extremely hungry to hear they Word TAUGHT, and instead of daydreaming through 15 minute Sermons, I was EAGER TO HEAR EVEN MORE. I found a BIBLE Teaching Church, where the Sermons were one hour long, and it seemed like a half hour or less, because those one hour sermons were SO INTERESTING. Yes, even my Mom accused me of Leaving the Church, but I knew I was where HE WANTED ME.
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