Christian "purpose" and "meaning" in life.

[Rampant.A.I.]

Nice apologetic try, but no, he said clearly that they already believed. If you take the idea that they didn't believe in jesus yet, then the first line falls apart, that they were believers and disciples. Furthermore, it was john that baptized jesus. John definitely was preaching about the correct god and jesus in christian doctrine. Are you claiming that John the baptist was not in touch with the correct god? Was he a mormon or something?

Besides if you did have a correct baptism, you should be hearing messages from the holy spirit, just like these twelve, yet you don't. I'm sure they used to think that they were supposed to have their conversations with god through the scriptures as well, just like you.

{or else they were delusional, just_like_you.}

They were disciples according to what they knew, and they were referred to as disciples, not believers. They told Paul that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit and had only received John's baptism of repentance. They believed in the coming messiah, but evidently hadn't heard that Jesus had come or they would have received his baptism. John was baptizing people before Jesus revealed himself in public and, therefore, baptized many people who had not yet heard of Jesus. By the way, baptism isn't the saving act, but just a confirmation of what we believe. When they received Jesus' baptism, they were confirming their belief in him. Why are you so hung up on messages from the Holy Spirit anyway? He works in my life every day. Am I supposed to get voice or text messages or what? God has never communicated directly with me in words, except through the scriptures.

I really hate when shoe leather Christians say "we believe __________" as if they or whatever sect they belong to speaks for all Christians.

There are differences in views about the effect of baptism for a Christian. Some Christian groups assert baptism is a requirement for salvation and a sacrament, and speak of "baptismal regeneration". Its importance may be understood by an informed knowledge of their interpretation of the most fundamental and basic meaning of the "Mystical Body of Christ" as found in the New Testament.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism