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Most Baptist churches do not teach that Baptism is essential for salvation.
Baptism is not a requirement for salvation and many churches do not subscribe to infant baptism Instead, Baptism in the Baptist church is a public expression of faith. “While it is personal, it is not private,” an article from the Southern Baptist Conventions’ journal says. “Such an act of obedience actually then clarifies their testimony and opens the door for ministry in the church.”
I belong to an American Baptist Church. We require baptism for membership as a public declaration of the faith that already saved the believer.
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Most Baptists in the US teach that Baptism is an outer sign or public proclamation of an inner work.
They say that Christ commanded it so Baptism is the act of obedience and showing our allegiance/ commitment to Christ, but it in no way saves us. Further- the word in Greek is Baptizo and literally means "to bury." When someone is buried he is not sprinkled with dirt.