One of those blogs states, “Either Constantine was or wasn’t a Christian.”
Fair enough. He wasn’t. At best, he was a false Christian who never rid himself of pagan notions and used religion to political ends.
He wasn’t even “converted” until he was already on his deathbed. Of course, he wasn’t even “baptized” at all according to what the word means. Constantine wasn’t put under water, but was rather sprinkled upon with water.
According to Peter, you must be baptized. No exceptions.
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. (Acts 2:37-39, King James Version)
Baptism, Strong’s G907, means “to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)”. It can also mean “to bathe”.
Consider the difference between bathing and taking a shower. Now consider that we are talking about an even bigger difference than that. If I dip my finger into some water and flick water on my face, can I say I have bathed? If you believe that, then please don’t sit near me on the bus.
More importantly, what does baptism symbolize? Death and burial! The old self is put to death, and what emerges from the water, is resurrected, is a new creature.
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4, King James Version)
11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:11-13, King James Version)
I remember years ago that GTA asked if anyone had ever been to funeral where the undertaker flicked a few handfuls of dirt into the dead person’s face in order to bury them. No, the person is placed into the ground. The person is covered by dirt. So it should be with the watery grave, or else the symbolism totally breaks down, let alone the literal meaning of “baptize”.
The meaning of some things in Scripture is quite clear. It is the twisting of words that make them unclear.
You can follow the commands of Scripture or the edicts of men. Jesus didn’t show a lot of patience with the latter.