Sovereign Grace Church

...He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved

Baptism is a ceremony, and nothing more. There is no saving efficacy in it nor is it a means through which grace is conveyed. But, that does not take away from its importance. The marriage ceremony does not cause a man and woman to love one another. They love each other before they participated in the marriage ceremony. But if they refuse to participate in the marriage ceremony, and live together without it, they say by that, that they do not love one another enough to be totally committed to one another. This shows how important the marriage ceremony is. There is no true love without it. Baptism is the same. It does not cause salvation. It speaks of a relationship that was already there before the ceremony. And that relationship was caused by what baptism depicts: Union with CHRIST. For someone to refuse Baptism is like someone who refuses the marriage covenant and ceremony. That person says by their actions, “I do not love CHRIST enough to commit to Him.” Love like that is not love at all! Yes, Baptism is important. (MARK 16:16)