I've been told that this is allegorical, like John 6, or that the water is amniotic fluid. But the meaning here is clear and direct - water and the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, how else to connect it to Matt. 28:19?
Everything's allegorical that doesn't fit with some folks' predetermined theology! ;) And you can quote direct statements of Scripture, but somehow they don't mean what they seem to mean. The world was created in literally six solar days--dare not deny it--but "Baptism now saves us" means everything but "Baptism now saves us".
I think your quote is well worth repeating ad nauseam, so allow me to contribute to the nausea!
John 3:5 - Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
I'm trying to think of Scripture where the person was baptized prior to belief. I think that in all instances those baptized were adult believers and it was done after a profession of faith.
Every man/woman is born of water, it’s the natural way. Don’t we come usually after the mother’s water breaks in the womb?