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Connecting believing and baptizing    
If you assume baptize implies Water Baptism then you see the act of believing as the first step in a two step process where Water Baptism is the second step.   

The first step being one if faith and the second step one of obedience.   

And so one introduces the conflict between Faith and Works right at the beginning.   

However if one understands that baptize means immerse then we a logical continuity between believing and baptizing.   
   ➛ to believe on Jesus is foundational
   ➛ to be immersed in Christ Jesus is relational

And so we see that there are two camps created based on theae different understandings.   
He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.
Paul echoes Christ when he says we are saved by Grace Through Faith .     

The baptism referred to here is immersion into Christ Jesus .     

It is not enough just to believe that Jesus is the Christ.     We must immerse ourselves in Him being Baptized In The Name Of Jesus Christ.     
How do we do that?     
   ➛ absorb the Word
   ➛ Spirit Baptism
   ➛ have the Mind Of Christ

As to Water Baptism, it is public evidence of faith in Christ.     It is not evidence to the Lord as He knows the heart of man.     

Paul makes it clear that Spirit Salvation is a result of Heart Faith in Christ Jesus and oral confession that Jesus is the resurrected Christ in .     

Public Confession of Christ confirms our salvation to ourselves and those to whom we witness.     It is a precursor to lifelong sharing of the Testimony Of Jesus Christ.