Question: Is water baptism necessary to be saved?

QUESTION: I have heard others teach that water baptism is an essential part of New Testament salvation, and that without proper baptism it is impossible to enter into the Kingdom of God. Is this true?

RESPONSE: I do not believe that this teaching can be substantiated from the Bible; I know of no verses that support it. On the contrary, Paul tells us that he didn’t baptize any of the Corinthians; then he corrects himself and says that he does remember that he baptized a few of them, but hardly any—Crispus and Gaius, and the household of Stephanas, but if there were any others, Paul doesn’t remember: “I know not whether I baptized any other” (1 Corinthians:1:14-16 [14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; [15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. [16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
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Surely if baptism were essential to salvation, he would have been more careful about this. “Well,” you might say, “someone else did the baptizing so they did get baptized.” This is possible, but Paul calls himself their father and explains what that means: “…for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians:4:15For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
See All...). They have been born again into Christ, Paul was the means of their salvation, and it happened through the gospel but without baptism. If baptism were essential, he could not have called himself the father through whom they were begotten in Christ Jesus, because he hadn’t baptized them! Paul reminds the Corinthians that they were saved through his preaching of the gospel, and explains what the gospel declares: “how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…” (1 Corinthians:15:1-4 [1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
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We also are saved through believing the gospel, and only through believing the gospel. Paul declares repeatedly: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans:1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
See All...). Again, this says nothing about baptism being any part of the gospel. In fact, Paul goes so far as to state, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians:1:17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
See All...). Clearly, he distinguishes between baptism and the gospel.