Baptism is a salvation issue.

Thank you for posting this Debate, I will also use the bible (KJV 1611) to prove my point, I have no reason to expect and look forward to anything other than a clean and honest debate from my opponent. For the interest of the reader, Pro is debating that a "physical" baptism is necessary for a persons salvation. The English word "baptism" is not a "translation" of the Greek word "baptizo", but is a "transliteration", or bringing the "spelling" of the Greek word "baptizo" into the English language with a comparable English spelling. This means that the English word "baptize" has no meaning of its own, but we must look at the uses of the Greek word "baptizo" in the Bible and in Greek literature to find it's true meaning. What we want to know is, what did "baptizo" mean to the New Testament writers who used it in the Greek text. The "figurative" use, to "identify with", a ceremonial use of "baptizo". In the classical Greek writing "Anabasis" written by Xenophon, Greek soldiers were said to have ceremonially "baptized", or "dipped" spears and arrow tips in blood, to "identity" them as weapons of war. Salvation has many biblical definitions, for the purpose of this debate I propose salvation is to be defined as "saved" as translated 93 times in the KJV. A Christian is baptized (spiritual) into identification with Christ, and may then be physically baptized as an outwardly sign to the world what God has done for them inwardly = "baptized in Christs name". - Jesus himself was baptized (physical) into identification with the will of his father which was to "fulfill all righteousness". he was also baptized (spiritual) into identification with our sins, ("he was made sin for us"). 2 Cor 5:21 = "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him". - "in him" = "we are made righteous in his name",, no man has the right to claim the power or right to physically baptize a person into the righteousness of Christ because he himself believes that we have been forgiven of our sins, it doesn't make sense, and it's non biblical. we need trust no man other than Jesus for our salvation. the next point I would like to address Relates to the context of Acts 2:38 = "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". Peter he is saying to us to "repent" (Repent = change) and as a result of this "change" we will be baptized "FOR" the remission of sins. "For" = "Eis" (Greek) = "because of",, so we are to repent and as a result we are baptized (spiritually) "because" we have been forgiven of our sins. Who else knows we have been forgiven and cleansed other than God ?,, (= nobody) so who can baptize us other than God ?,, Do the scriptures tell us how we are baptized ?, Yes !,, John the baptizer told us Jesus would baptize us by his spirit, Mark 1:8 = "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost",,let us also look at - 1 Cor 12:13 = "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit". = no third party performing baptism. Nothing to do with water, or trusting in anyone other than Jesus, here is a perfect biblical example of a person changing and gaining salvation without any physical baptism. The thief on the cross, who was mocking Jesus then had a change of heart,, Jesus told him Luke, 23:43 = "....Today shalt thou be with me in paradise". where was his baptism ?,, Jesus baptized millions of people without any of them getting wet, = "no physical baptism" The children of Israel passing through the Red sea. I Cor 10:1-4 = "1-Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2-And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (= "baptized into identification with Moses & Jesus") 3-And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4-And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Where was the physical baptism for these people who were at the time fleeing for their lives ? (= "non existent") To end this round I would like to add one final point, if it is necessary to be physically baptized to go from being born of Adam ( = flesh and sin) to be born of God (= spirit and spotless) why did John tell us otherwise ?, 1 John 5:1 says = " Whosoever (presently) believeth that Jesus is the Christ is (has already been) born of God." ,, = we are born of God based on our belief , Jesus told the Pharisees that their father was the "Devil" and called them "vipers" because of their lack of belief, = they were born of Adam (physical) but not of God (spiritual)