Water baptism is essential to salvation.

How is that changing my argument? You assumed that I was referring to baptism when it comes to being born of the water. I just clarified my meaning because you had the wrong impression. Yes baptism may be a physical process but it results in spiritual birth. When Jesus said that,"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," He was still in the process of responding to the question Nicodemus asked him in verse 4 about being born a second time out of his mother's womb. Which anyone can clearly see, that Jesus is telling Nicodemus that you had your physical birth which was of the flesh, but I'm talking about your spiritual birth which is of the spirit. I see that you, like Nicodemus, don't understand these sayings of Jesus. The New Testament only records individuals being born again, having a new life, or being resurrected through baptism. Paul told the Romans that through BAPTISM, they had died and was resurrected. Now if the Romans hadn't died physically yet, what type of death, burial, and resurrection did they participate in?. Who said anything about your spirit(immaterial thing) being baptized? 1 Corinthians 10:2 doesn't say INTO but instead it says UNTO. How did the Corinthians get in Christ body in 1 Corinthians 12:13? Don't worry I'll answer that for you. Acts 18:8 tells us that after they heard Paul preach, they BELIEVED and was BAPTIZED!!!! The text is not about no public affirmation!! How do you figure? The text clearly explains the purpose of baptism. I believe anyone who reads that text would agree. Baptism into isn't the act of baptism but the symbol of baptism???? Where do you get this stuff from????? How is one being baptized into Christ only symbolic, when only after you're baptized are you in Christ?? Umm. What's questionable about GOD'S word? I ignored that on purpose. How are you going to try and compare a statement of observation to instructions or demands, of Jesus at that????? incomparable and a poor example used to illustrate your claim or point you're attempting to make.. No, you cannot infer that "A furless animal isn't a cat" from someone saying that "Cats have Fur". Now, read my example: If I tell you that I will pay you $20 if you rake my grass, do I have to tell you that if you don't rake my grass I'm not going to pay you $20??? No, because it's understood that IF you rake the grass you get $20, so you don't get $20 if you don't do anything because in order to get the $20 dollars, you have to rake the grass!!! Seems fairly easily comprehensible to me!! How can one boast about God saving them?? Yielding to the will of the Lord requires humility, which has no room for boasting. If God now saves everyone the same way, how can one boast about an act that's required of everyone??? Doesn't make sense!! Now you say that how Abraham and Noah showed faith is irrelevant. Not true at all!!! Hebrews 11:1 tells us that, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things unseen. So, having faith is basically believing in something not seen whether it was promised or hoped for. Well Hebrews 11:7 says, By faith Noah, being warned of God of things NOT SEEN AS YET, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hmm, so Noah believed that God was going to flood the earth(which was promised but unseen)(faith) and PREPARED(work) an ark to SAVE his house. Then, Hebrews 11:17 says, BY FAITH Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, OBEYED; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. To make a long story short, By faith Abraham obeyed. Hmmmm... As you can see, one illustrates their faith by, God speaking(reading His word), Man listening(accepting His word), then Man obeying( works of obedience) The idea of baptism being essential to salvation may be silly to you, but that's between you and God!!! Someone who loves him will keep his commandments(John 14:15), so they don't have to burn on the lake of eternal fire!!! Why don't you want to accept God's plan of salvation???? The Bible clearly teaches that: You must first hear the Gospel.(Romans 10:17, Heb,11:6) You must believe the Gospel.(John 8:24, John 3:16) You must repent of your sins.(Luke 13:3) You must confess Christ.(Matt. 10:32-33) You must be baptized for the remission of your sins.(Acts 2:38, Matt.28:18-20, Gal.3:26-27, Mark 16:16) Then you are to try to live faithful unto death.(Revelation 2:10) YOU VS THE BIBLE Now you say that works aren't necessary for salvation and,"Yes," we are saved by faith only----------------THE BIBLE SAYS, James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:24 Ye see then how that by WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED, and NOT BY FAITH ONLY. James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Now you say that we bury the dead. Well, if baptism is a burial and it's done after one is born again or has new life as you say, then you're telling me, that you guys not only bury the living but you do it right after their new life starts . Now does that make any sense?? Lol... The thief on the cross, this one is my favorite!!!! First of all, who's to say that he wasn't baptized? Matthew 3:4-5 tells us that John the Baptist baptized some of Jerusalem, All of Judea, and All the region around about the Jordan. Secondly, Jesus had the authority to forgive the sins of whoever he wanted to (Mark 2:10), Which he did do for alot of individuals. Third, Jesus told the same rich young ruler that you referred to, to sell all of his possessions and he would have eternal life. Now, if someone asked you how to become a christian, would you tell them that they have to keep all of the commandments and sell all of their possessions to be saved??? Let me answer that for you.. NO!!! Also, the thief on the cross died before the cross and before the Great Commission was given to the apostles by Jesus. Jesus had to die first in order to receive the authority for the new covenant to begin. Hebrews 9:15-17 says," 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Not only that but, the church hadn't even started yet and paradise isn't Heaven. Now if water baptism isn't essential, why did the Eunuch, in the eight chapter of the book of Acts, request to be baptized in the middle of a trip in the desert where there was no one there for public affirmation?? Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. Just incase you missed my new questions, here they are: Now if the Romans hadn't died physically yet, what type of death, burial, and resurrection did they participate in?. Who said anything about your spirit(immaterial thing) being baptized? The text is not about no public affirmation!! How do you figure? Why don't you want to accept God's plan of salvation????