Most Baptists believe that baptism in itself does not convey salvation or transformation, but is a sign of what has already happened in a spiritual sense to a new believer. Since it is considered not to bestow "saving grace" or be salvific as such, Baptists consider it an "ordinance" rather than a "sacrament." Being a church "ordinance"—a teaching of the Bible that Jesus intended his followers to observe, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper.
Baptism cannot be separated from one’s doctrine of Christ, since Christ himself was baptized and his redemptive work is depicted in baptism by immersion as a new relationship in Christ which all believers enjoy. The immersion in water signifies Baptism's two main effects - purification from sins and new birth in the Holy Spirit. Peter promised his hearers (on Pentecost) that by Baptism they would receive "forgiveness for your sins" and "the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
Baptism forgives all sins (original and personal) and all punishment for sin (Council of Florence). Nothing remains to impede entrance into heaven. Baptism makes the believer an adopted child of God, a sharer in God's nature, a co-heir with Christ, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. By sanctifying grace (the grace of justification), the baptized:
Are enabled to believe in God, hope in him, and love him (theological virtues)
Can live according to the power of the Holy Spirit (the sanctifying gifts)
Can grow in goodness (the moral virtues)
Baptism bestows the whole organism of the supernatural life.
By Baptism "we are members one of another" (Eph 4:25). This Body of Christ transcends all cultures, because "by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Cor 12:13).
The baptized have become "living stones." They are a royal nation, a holy priesthood, God's own people (1 Pet 2:9) sharing in the common priesthood of all believers.
Oh me. You have fundamentally misunderstood the Scriptures. I take baptism most seriously. I would probably be a Presbyterian were it not for their teaching on baptism because I’m closer to conservative Presbyterians theologically than I am most Baptists. As much as I believe In baptism, water never saved anyone and it won’t save you. And I will never stop telling Catholics the truth, just as I won’t stop telling Baptists or rank reprobates the truth. There’s no salvation in a denomination. Too many people equate salvation with some steps to take, a decision to make, a prayer to pray. They are all wrong. There is salvation in Christ, and in Christ alone. The modern gospel of most churches is no gospel at all. Satan does his best work in the arena of religion. Some of the most lost people I know are clergymen. They are absolutely blind to the truth.
The immersion in water signifies Baptism's two main effects - purification from sins and new birth in the Holy Spirit.Don't get confused from your church fathers council decisions.Baptism forgives all sins (original and personal) and all punishment for sin (Council of Florence).
I'm glad to see a Catholic understand baptism, ie the IMMERSION in water...the only Scriptural way to be baptized.
Baptism is a believers way of demonstrating that he is born again, he is a new creature in Christ Jesus.
Baptism does NOT forgive (or purify from) sins, only Jesus does.
That happens at the moment one repents and turns away from their old life, picks up their cross, and follows Jesus.
Then baptism. Jesus has ALREADY wiped away the sins of the believer and made him/her white as snow.