Here is a letter J R Graves wrote concerning John 3:5 and entering the kingdom

• Here is a letter J R Graves wrote concerning John 3:5 and entering the kingdom
  
  
  
  J R Graves in John 3:5
  
  
  “DEAR BROTHER.
  My position touching Jno. 3:5 briefly is this: Nicodemus, a natural man, is desirous to know the qualifications requisite for citizenship in Messiah’s kingdom — which at that time consisted of his one visible church. The Savior gave him the information sought, viz.: He must be qualified to see, — i.e., idealize. Comprehend His Kingdom first — and this done by spiritual discernment only — for all that appertained to His kingdom was spiritual, viz., its doctrine, its membership — its mission. He must be a spiritual man to understand spirit things, and this is gained only by a spiritual birth. It was necessary further to be born of the Spirit — i.e., undergo that moral change wrought by the spirit which is expressed by the figurative expression “born from above” — of the Spirit. He must be a new creature in Christ Jesus before he can comprehend the nature of the kingdom as the duties or responsibilities he takes upon himself in becoming a citizen of it. He must be a saved man before he is qualified for the rite that places him within the Kingdom — a member of the Spiritual family of Abraham.
  To enter the Kingdom he must enter some local church — since the Kingdom is composed of all the existing local churches, as the United States is of all the 38 States. The church is, and can be, entered only by baptism — 1 Cor. 12 — added to Christ’s statement here his position (the Campbellite preacher’s) is an unfounded assumption. — No salvation out of the Kingdom. Salvation is the precedent qualification for the Kingdom. All who enter must be saved outside. Only the saved were added to the church. Acts 2d, last clause, NONE BUT THE SAVED CAN BE SCRIPTUALLY ADDED. We are, must be, dead — dead to sin before we are buried with Christ by baptism — Rom. 6.
  The sophism of Ritualists touching Gal. 3:5, is their claim that the Kingdom of heaven is ultimate glory. It is not, but a visible organization on this earth — see V. 6. Christ had not alluded to anything in heaven as yet but something on the earth — his church organization which is here considered as His kingdom. Since having but one church, they were one, and the same spiritual regeneration, precedes any overt act of the creature — and this to enable him to see — i.e., comprehend, understand the nature and duties of it, but added to his — and that is the force of “and” — baptism is necessary to enable one to enter his Kingdom. Translate thus — except one be born of water in addition to being born of the Spirit he cannot become a member of My church, or a citizen of My kingdom. I want no stronger text to overthrow Campbellism. I write currente calomo, being in great haste preparing to depart West.  
  Yours truly,
  
  J. R. Graves”
  
  
  Orchards history of the Baptist chapter 1 section 3
  
  
  Some persons at this period gave undue importance to places, as to the waters of Jordan. To such Tertullian asserts,
  “It is all one whether a person is washed in the sea or in a pond, in a fountain or in a river, in standing or in running water; nor is there any difference between those whom John baptized in Jordan, and those whom Peter baptized, unless it be supposed that the eunuch, whom Philip dipped in the water, obtained more or less salvation.” f89
  On which observation Bingham remarks,
  “So that the first ages all agree in this, that whether they had baptisteries or not, the place of baptism was always without the church, and after this manner baptisteries continued till the sixth century.” f90
  Others felt disposed to forego baptism, because salvation had been realized without. Tertullian rebukes the disobedience of such, and he further argues, from Christ’s words, <430305>John 3:5, to prove the necessity of obeying and conforming; and asserts, “that all believers from thenceforth [from the giving of the above words] were baptized.” f91 He adds,
  “That men’s minds were hardened against baptism, because the person [to be baptized] was brought down into the water without pomp, without any new ornament or sumptuous preparation, and dipped at the pronouncing of a few words.” f92

Mac Woody