I think there is a very important point that has been missed in this thread. Woob vaguely pointed to it but did not address it directly.
The Seventh-day Adventist faith is not a denomination but a movement. The Church of Christ is a spiritual church that is comprised of many people of many different faiths, all who have one thing in common; they love Jesus with their whole heart and long to glorify Him in everything they do. So when a person is baptized, they are baptized into the body of Christ not a specific denomination or movement. Which includes the seventh day adventist movement and the restoration movement.
I am going to use an extreme example to make a point:
Say a man approaches you knowing that you are an elder in a church, doesn't matter what church. He approaches you because he wants to be baptized into Christ as the bible instructs him to be. However, there is a catch. Tomorrow he is going in for a very risky surgery that he has a very high chance of dying. Do you take the time to study with him All the doctrines that you hold to be true and if he does not agree with you on, say, the state of the dead; do you refuse him baptism even though he believes?
What it really comes down to is Jesus.
However, in a "normal case" it would be a great disservice to a person to baptize them knowing that they hold to the the doctrine of OSAS. So it is important that a person demonstrates understanding of the gospel.
In the case above, it would be appropriate for you to f/u with this man if he lives through the surgery and continue studying with him. But the criteria for baptism biblically is belief in Jesus as your savior not on other points of doctrine.
It is quite correct to say "What it really comes down to is Jesus;" thankyou for pointing that out here.
One of the things that crosses my mind, at times, when some people say that "all you need to be baptized is belief in Jesus;" is that the Bible does say Satan also believes in Jesus. (James 2:19).
There is the camp that tries to say "Only talk about Jesus;" but what they mean is "at the expense of doctrines."
I have always felt that "doctrines" are given a bad rap when the Bible would not support what people try to say. "Only talk about Jesus" and "Don't get too doctrinal" are commonly heard sayings which illustrate this.
As one who has worked in palliative care nursing for years; I understand very well that when a person is dying; they probably, don't even need baptism. They actually do just need Jesus.
Where the "doctrinal" part comes in, in my experience, is at the point of one's felt, and expressed need. This is how Jesus always met people. he met them where they were at.
All doctrines, correctly understood, have "Christ and Him crucified" as the central theme. Of course, you don't usually tell a dying person about "The Mark Of The Beast," but maybe that person has had two children killed in a car accident, and they are despairing about ever seeing them again; plus about what is going to happen to them personally.
I remember one such case; and I chose to talk about the resurrection with this individual. They were so delighted to hear the text in 1 Thes.4:13-18. They had no idea that through Jesus, they could be re-united with their loved ones again, and their were tears of joy around the hospital bed by all. To look to Jesus; and have His hope is what we all need.
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Ellen White offers some very pertinent counsel on this matter of "doctrines:"
"There is one, great, central truth to be kept ever before the mind in the searching of the Scriptures: 'Christ and Him crucified.' Every other truth is invested with power and influence, corresponding to it's relation to this theme." (Ms. 31, 1890).
Any doctrine, or doctrinal understanding which lessens the need for, or negates the need for the Atonement, is not Christian. The Advent movement seeks to have this kind of focus on each doctrine, so that in reality, we do only talk about Jesus.
