OK, so he says there are at least four schools of thought about "Christian" baptism but doesn't deal at all with those who don't fall into any of the four he mentions.

What is confusing to me is where Van Ryn writes: “John preached: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’- (Matthew 3:2). ‘And when the people came, they were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins’- (Matthew 3:56). It does not say they were forgiven, and there is a reason for this. That forgiveness waited for the day of Pentecost, when the apostle Peter preached to those same Jews the same message ‘repent’ and, in addition, promised the gift of the Holy Ghost. Note the gradual progress of truth: John preached repentance only; Peter preached repentance and forgiveness; and after that, Paul, and even Peter, preached faith alone.”

So those baptised by John, who had come in repentance, were not forgiven!! Van Ryn says they had to wait.... But Mark in his gospel writes: “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4). So they did receive forgiveness. Imagine being repentant, confessing your sins and then have to wait.