But Nicodemus makes absolutely no mention of baptism, John or Jewish washing ceremonies.
Nicodemus only references birth... so the water is natural birth.
This is your own logic working against your argument.
Not at all. Nicodemus is trying to understand what Jesus meant by being "born again." Nothing more. It is Jesus who brings up "born of water."
Jesus first expands on what he means by being "born again" in verse 3, with being "born of water and the Spirit" in verse 5. Then, in verse 6 he addresses more directly the questions of Nicodemus in verse 4. Jesus cannot be saying that "born of flesh" refers to "born of water," since
both "born of water and Spirit" are what it means to be "born again." To say that "born of water" refers to physical birth is to limit being "born again" to only being "born of the Spirit."
The word is water not the water is the word.
So this does not refer to baptism.
Washing of regeneration. Not the washing with water.
Again this is not about baptism but the work of the Holy Spirit which baptism indicates to others.
And here we have the work of God not the washing by the hands of man.
And, what did I say? That being born of water points to repentance and purification, but that it is pointless (useless and ineffective) if not done by the Holy Spirit. I was not saying that those verses refer to water baptism per se, but rather to the work of the Holy Spirit.
Here part of what M. R. Vincent states on John 3:5:
"Thus Jesus' words included a prophetic reference to the complete ideal of Christian baptism - “the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit_3:5; Eph_5:26); according to which the two factors are inseparably
blended (not the one swallowed up by the other), and the new life is inaugurated both
symbolically in the baptism with water, and
actually in the renewing by the Holy Spirit, yet so as that the
rite, through its association with the Spirit's energy, is more than a mere symbol: is a veritable vehicle of grace to the recipient, and acquires a substantial part in the inauguration of the new life. Baptism, considered merely as a rite, and apart from the operation of the Spirit, does not and cannot impart the new life. Without the Spirit it is a lie. It is a truthful sign only as the sign of an inward and spiritual grace."
Sure baptize disciples but there is no reference to baptism doing anything... other than be a symbol.
Where does Matt 28:19 refer to baptism only being a symbol? Don't overlook the fact that Jesus is commanding his followers to go baptize more followers, which is irrelevant as to whether or not baptism actually does something.
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.”
Act 2:40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
Act 2:41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (ESV)
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 8:13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Act 8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
Act 8:15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
Act 8:16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 8:17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (ESV)
Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. (ESV)
Act 9:17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Act 9:18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; (ESV)
Act 10:45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
Act 10:46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,
Act 10:47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. (ESV)
Act 16:14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
Act 16:15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. (ESV)
Act 18:8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. (ESV)
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. (ESV)
Act 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (ESV)
Note that in the last verse, where Paul is describing his conversion, baptism was to "wash away [his] sins." Taking water baptism as being the physical, symbolic act that describes the already completed inner work of the Holy Spirit, and being that Jesus commanded his followers to be baptized in water, this fully supports that being "born again" is to be "born of water and the Spirit."
If the Acts references are as weak as the references in this post, I do not predict much success for you.
You can stop with the snide remarks.
You are welcome to your personal beliefs but please don't teach them as doctrine.
It's the logical outcome of your position. All unborn human persons who fail to be born by water will not enter the kingdom of God. So, where do they go?
