You mean, the ritual, -- the water and the prayers, -- does not have anything to do with salvation. You certainly believe that a profession of faith has everything to do with it. I think, I expressed my knowledge of this belief in 551. I also agreed to a refined statement of what the baptists believe in 558. I, of course, disagree on the truth of that belief, but I think I have grasped its essence. Am I still inaccurate?
Correct.
You certainly believe that a profession of faith has everything to do with it.
The profession of faith I spoke of was for church membership, not for salvation. According to my beliefs, at 17, I was saved when I said a prayer alone in my room. 15 years later, when I applied for membership in my current SB church, this story was fine for them.
Blue-duncan's post in #558 was exactly correct. To Baptists, baptism is an obedience to God and a symbol of what has already taken place, salvation.
From your #551:
If Jake, 20 years of age, experiences a conversion to Christ, and is baptized in a baptist church, he is baptised when the baptismal prayer is said and the water touches his forehead. A baptist would say that Jake is baptized at the time of the conversion, while the water and the prayer are outward symbols.
Baptists believe that the only baptism that "counts" is by full immersion (no sprinkling). Jake is not baptized at the point of conversion because the two acts are completely independent of each other. Jake is only baptized when he arises from the dunking :) And, salvation must precede baptism.