Hey Pahupke,
below some Scripture that helped me...
I've come to realise that Jesus Himself was baptized...He insisted on it...Jesus' party (the disciples) baptized in the presence of Jesus...Jesus also gave his disciples an order to preach the Gospel and baptize people...water is also one of the "witnesses" on earth together with "blood" and "the Spirit"...and all three agree as one
I know there's a feeling amongst many brothers that water baptism is carnal and serves no purpose...yes, if its just some empty ritual I agree...but the Spiritual significance that goes with it is special...as it becomes a witness of our repentance from sin, our burial with Christ and our rising as new creatures...
John the Baptist said that he was baptizing with water but One will come who who will baptize with the Holy Spirit...yes, too true...but Jesus and his followers did both...AND Jesus also RECEIVED both...
also, people were baptized in water AFTER they have received the Holy Spirit
Paul did not baptize...he said that his mission was to preach the gospel...but Paul was accompanied by many other disciples of Christ...he doesn't say that his companions didn't baptize...
my wife and I have been baptized three years ago...and since God has revealed many Spiritual truths to us, personally and through the teachings of people like Ray and Mike and many others...
but my race is not run...I had to reach a few milestones on my journey in order get where I'm at...of which baptism was just one just as the realisation of sin through the Law and many others known as "first principles of the doctrine of Christ" were...I couldn't stomach "the meat" then, I HAD to drink milk before...and now looking back some things might look silly and carnal yes, but it was part of the journey to deeper Spirituality...we don't become Spiritual beings all at once...it is a process (a race like Paul said)
seek earnestly the Lord's answer on this :wink:
Joh 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Ac 10:47
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
1Jo 5:6
This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
1Jo 5:8
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Mt 3:16
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mr 1:4
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
1Co 1:17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Mt 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Joh 3:22
After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.
Joh 4:1
Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
Joh 4:2
(although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),