
Is it essential to be clothed with Christ? "For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27). The apostle Paul tells us that we clothe ourselves with Christ when we are immersed into Him. Does this sound essential?
Is it essential to have your sins taken away? "Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name" (Acts 22:16). Ananias spoke these words to Saul. God's messenger (Ananias) told God's future apostle (Paul) to be baptized to wash away his sins. Does having your sins washed away sound essential?
Is it essential to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you? "However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him (Romans 8:9). We cannot be God's child without the Spirit. How do you get the Spirit? "Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). The Spirit is essential if we want to claim a relationship with God. You receive the Holy Spirit within you at the same time you have your sins washed away when you are baptized.
There are many more passages that speak of the need to be baptized, but from those above, you can see that baptism is essential for salvation.