I believe you are right when you say: “The key to understanding Jesus’ answer is how we understand the word righeousness.”
In Jeramiah 23:6 we read: 6In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jesus altho sinless decided to be baptised to fulfill OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. He knew that there would be people that for some reason or another could not be baptised (ie. the thief on the cross). So He being our propitiation in all things was baptised for them. Baptism however does not take away sins. If that were the case there would have been no need for the cross. What baptism is, is basically an anouncement that the one being baptised has accepted Jesus as thier Lord and Savior and have repented of thier sins. It is this acceptance and repentance that allows the candidate to be forgiven. The baptismal rite is important also in it’s symbolism.
Romans6:3Know 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.
5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
When we are plunged under the waters of baptism, we are accepting His death in place of our death, and when we come up from the water (grave) we accept Jesus’ resurrection as ours and therefore walk in newness of life. This symbolism is the reason that the only valid form of baptim is total immersion. And because baptism is an act of faith only those old enough to accept Christ in faith are capable of being baptised./QUO
Okay first of all where does scripture say FULL IMMERSION is the only valid Baptsim.
Next you say Baptism is not for forgiveness of sins Mark 1:4 contradicts you.
Third if baptist is only for adults why does scripture again contradict you. Why in acts 2:37 does it say repent and be baptised EVERYONE OF YOU in the name of Jesus Christ fro the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the holy spirit. For this promise is made to YOU and YOUR CHILDREN. (again scripture contradicts you)