Obeying Christ is not legalism. The need for circumcision has passed, but baptism? Just before his ascension, Jesus tells the disciples to go make disciples of all nations and baptize them (Matt. 28:19). He also tells them to
first wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4), which came about ten days after his ascension. Yet, you actually believe that baptism "passed away with the coming of Pentecost," which means Jesus command to baptize was utterly meaningless.
Do you see how your position makes no sense of what the Bible says?
Again, this makes no sense of the biblical text. First, we see what John's baptism was about:
Mar 1:4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming
a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
John the Baptizer was the last of the prophets, the forerunner of the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord:
Mat 11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John
Second, we see that not only affirmed, but also that the Apostles continued to baptize people as Jesus commanded:
Act 19:3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”
Act 19:4 And Paul said, “
John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”
Act 19:5 On hearing this,
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Third, yes, baptism has to do with the kingdom, but the kingdom began with Jesus's ministry and was inaugurated with his death and resurrection. We are in the kingdom now, which has yet to come in its fullness, but will do so when Christ returns.
Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 8:11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,
Mat 10:7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Mat 11:11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.
Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mat 13:37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
Mat 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
Mat 13:39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
Mat 13:40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
Mat 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,
Mat 13:42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip as
he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that
through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Act 19:8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly,
reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
Act 20:25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about
proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
Act 28:23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them,
testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
Act 28:31
proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Etc.
(All ESV.)
First, Jesus's disciples baptized people with water:
Joh 4:1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
Joh 4:2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), (ESV)
Second, being baptized in water does not preclude being baptized with the Holy Spirit. In fact, in Acts Peter says that receiving the Holy Spirit is based on first being baptized, which means water.
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Act 2:38 And Peter said to them, “
Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (ESV)
Act 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2:39 For
the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (ESV)
You're going against Scripture by saying it isn't for "everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." You even say that "only for a short period of time, a small handful of people were baptized with water into the New Testament, but never again afterwards." Your position contradicts Scripture and the command of Jesus.
Also, from the Didache, generally considered a first century work:
"
Chapter 7. Concerning Baptism. And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm.
But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before."
https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html
Where, exactly, is that stated?
All water baptism.