**but under the new covenant the culpable need the faith which baptism requires and manifests, and which signifies death to the old life and resurrection to walk in newness of life**
The passover in Egypt removed the hopelessness of never ending bondage. The choice to leave Egypt was then available. But which way? Was the Red Sea ‘baptism’ unnecessary, or was it real killer of torment?
Those that insist of water baptism being nothing more than symbolic are willingly ignorant of the power of water baptism in the name if Jesus Christ (the prophet like unto Moses).
God told Moses to turn the Israelites away from the obvious, well-traveled, route to the promised land, the cloud confirming it, leading to the Red Sea. It seemed ridiculous to the Israelites, then worse, a trap resulting in death by the persuing Egyptian army.
It was there, that by following Moses, all went “under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;” (2Cor. 10:1,2).
With its army destroyed there, Egypt no longer had any power whatsover over the Israelites.
The Son of God broke the hopelessness of bondage to sin at the cross. But choices must be made, and commandments followed, when told of this hope. At the end of each of the four gospels, Jesus Christ give commandments for conversion. Those commandments are shown being enacted for the first time in Acts 2:38.
Repentance is seen in Israel’s acceptance and obedience to the passover in Egypt. They could then please God, but had to come to him (at Sinai), and come there HIS way. But they had to be ‘buried’ (baptized) at the Red Sea to be purged of the nagging curse of Pharaoh’s army (a type of sin). The cloud over them is symbolic of Holy Ghost baptism.
It is interesting that, in reference to the whole breaking down of Egypt to free Israel, the word ‘salvation’ is finally used at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:13). And upon crossing the Red Sea, and the Egyptians destroyed, Exodus 14:30 says:
“Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.”
Certainly there is the analogy, however it fails to support the premise that this was literally required for all subsequently, for this would require all those who were subsequently born to undergo this immersion.
And it is very clear that in the NT baptism is not essential for effectual, penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating faith, which is counted for righteousness, but it is to be concomitant with it.