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But it is crystal clear that water baptism of the professed believer was ordained by Christ as applying to disciples made by the Apostles, not merely to converts; nor did John nor Christ nor the Apostles baptize to impart salvation. The purpose was to publicly signify a persistent faith in the Person and Work of The Christ, unto death. By faith, my sins were remitted at the Cross, not by the public rite of inductance into discipleship. That real occasion of invisible commitment was again rehearsed in a public figurative-literal rite of immersion thus displaying in a figure of that which is recounted in Romans 6:3,5 in the likeness of His death, a Biblical metaphor of what happened at the cross for all, and accepted by trusting in His Faith.

Thank you for your well reasoned and Biblical responses. I was baptized as an infant into the Roman Catholic Church. This was something done TO me, supposedly FOR me, yet it was not until I was gently led to the passage in John 10:27-30 and I read God's word for myself, that I first understood what saving faith was all about. I came to faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and was later baptized (for the second, but really the first, time) as a public profession of faith and as a testimony to henceforth walk in newness of life, a follower of Jesus Christ. My salvation was assured the moment of my belief in and trust of Christ to save me from my sins through his sacrificial death on the cross and it was at that moment also that I received the Holy Spirit, who is the earnest of my inheritance in Christ. This is the blessed assurance we are to live with and which gives our lives purpose and meaning as we do the works preordained by God that we should walk in them. I praise the Lord that He made sure we had His Holy Scriptures so that we can know what is the truth and we would not have to depend upon fallible human beings to tell us - though it is His desire that we have preachers and teachers who know and speak the truth. It is the Holy Spirit within that leads us into all truth and who illuminates that truth within our hearts.

What a great encourager!

It is the Holy Spirit within that leads us into all truth and who illuminates that truth within our hearts.

The object of the true discipler is to draw the learner to all the aspects of spiritual growth. One of the aspects is to learn how to confront five adversaries: Satan, his demons, the world system, one's own flesh, and professing false "believers."

The enticements these adversaries are through our thoughts -- reasonings, high thoughts, doubts, and distracting activities -- and appeals to ones lusts.

But to be an effective discipler, one must have fought a few of one's own spiritual battles. Without the power of the Holy Ghost doing His work through prudent employment of Holy Scripture, natural facts, and timing, the command to be an overcomer can bring some disappointments. But in the end, our opponents cannot win when we rest in Christ. Your words today are unexpected but sweet to hear. There's been a lot of opposition in this topic. Thank you--I will rest better tonight.

Hasta la vista!