The ritual

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Matthew 3:5-9

Baptism is from the Greek word baptisma which is from baptizo meaning "to dip repeatedly". Baptisma appears 22 times in the New Testament and is always translated Baptism. In the Greek context it simply means "immersion, submersion".

Most people think you enter the Kingdom of Heaven by baptism of water and a profession of faith.

John 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. We are all born of water but not all of the Spirit.

Baptism with water has its place as an outward sign of preparation and intent. It serves a useful purpose in the perception of men. Yet, baptism with water is not what John prophesied as the important baptism.

Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

I am not speaking against baptism with water but hoping to put it in its true perspective. It is not a magical ceremony but only an outward ritual to demonstrate the direction and intent of entering the Kingdom and its inner sanctuary of God's covering and protection.

1 John 5:7-8 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

. A man has a body but also has a mind or spirit and he has a soul which is his corporeal and incorporeal status or hereditaments. This is not such a mystery but actually rather simple They should be in agreement to make a complete individual. For this discussion we may assume these are all part of a whole. In other words one may be baptized with water but neither the intent nor the authority of the event took place or attached simply because they were not in agreement.