But many minds still wonder:
Is baptism used to help save us, or is it a sign that we have been saved?
There can only be one means of appropriating justification, which is by effectual regenerating faith being imputed for righteousness, which effects the same, and not a ritual that requires a certain physical element, and which renders one good enough to be declared righteousness, but who quickly discovers he is sinful and thus must usually endure postmortem "purifying punishments" (as if suffering itself makes on righteousness) to once again to become good enough to with God.
However, since baptism properly requires and fosters faith then in some cases it can be a catalyst in conversion, being the occasion, but not the cause, of conversion. An altar call can likewise be one, as inducing faith, which is what sound preaching itself is to do.
This union of cause and effect is illustrated in the case of the palsied man, in which Christ asked, "Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? (Mark 2:9) then to tell a person to do something which requires faith can be the same as telling them to be believe, as in Acts 2:38 which is consistent with Acts 10:43. It was forgiveness which effected the healing, and thus "Thy sins be forgiven thee" or "take up thy bed, and walk" went together and could be used interchangeably. However, the effect is never to be confused with the cause, even though they go together as cause and effect.
“...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ...”