Our Lord says, "He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned" (Mark
(1)
FAITH IN CHRIST IS THE ONE CONDITION OF SALVATION.
Baptism has no saving efficacy. It is not a condition to be met for salvation.
It is not meritorious. It is not a means of grace. We are saved by grace alone,
through faith alone, in Christ alone.
(2) FAITH IN CHRIST IS THE ONE PRE-REQUISITE FOR BAPTISM. Who
may and should be baptized? We answer in the words of Holy Scripture, "If
thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest" (Acts
(3) BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL. No one who is truly saved by
the grace of God will rebel against and refuse to submit to the command of
Christ. True faith is submission to Christ, not rebellion.