1. All mainline Christian denominations believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.  It is not obtained by works of the flesh.

Titus 3:5 [God] saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. 

Some would have us believe that there are “sacraments” which must be faithfully observed in order to be saved. Christians, however, believe the Lord left only two ordinances - Believer’s Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. 

These ordinances have no saving power,
and they are not elements of salvation.

2. We believe that a new believer should be baptized by immersion because that is the way Jesus was baptized.

Matthew 3:16 And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, ¹⁷ and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

3. Baptists identify it as “Believer’s Baptism” because when we examine the New Testament we see that ALL baptisms are performed on individuals AFTER they have believed.

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Notice the order?  Believed, then Baptized.  Also notice the verses DOES NOT say that if a person has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ but has not yet been baptized cannot be saved. The emphasis in this verse is not that baptism saves.  The lost are condemned for unbelief, not for not being baptized.

4. Believer’s baptism is an outward expression of something that has taken place in a person’s spirit which has made them a different person. When a person is truly born again as described biblically, they are different - not just on the surface, but in the deep part of their spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.

5. We follow the example of the New Testament church.

Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Believer’s Baptism is the way that a person identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus set the example as He identified with all believers at Jordan.