What is Baptism?

Baptism is a ritual in which a new Christian (or an old Christian who has for some reason delayed the practice) is submerged, and brought back out of water, as an answer of good conscience towards God (1 Peter 3:21). Christians are baptised in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in accordance with the Great Commission, as found in Matthew 28:16-20. This is done not only as mere obedience to Him, but also as a public profession of one's faith in Him, and a dramatic re-enactment of His death, burial, and resurrection, in which we are partakers.

From an objective standpoint, baptism is not an issue that can be reasonably disputed. We are commanded to do it, and refusal to do so is, at best, active rebellion against Christ, and at worst, symptomatic (though not without dispute) of the absence of salvation. With that being said, baptism is also a work, which means it can neither save us, nor is it essential to salvation. Because of this, many errors persist, and are even very popular, within the Church which CAN be disputed without fear that salvation is lost. Thus, I have seen fit to include it as an "in house" issue.