Is baptism required for salvation?

Jesus was sent to wash our flesh of sin which was born of water at birth (Chirst set us free from sin), the spiritual birth is baptism born to newness of life. (Holy Spirit) ( 2 bodies )

I Corinthian 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.


49 as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.


52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Sure. Lets look at it in the context of scripture:

John 3:5-7
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
NKJV

Jesus speaks of two things:

1) Being born of water.
2) being born of Spirit

Then he speaks of two things again:

1) Being born of the flesh
2) Bring born of the spirit.

The Jews used a literary form called parallelism frequently. In this case you are essentially equating things by parallel comparison, placed in their respective order. In this case, we see being born of water equated to being born of the flesh. We are all born of the flesh, but not all are born of the spirit (born again), and yet He says that both are essential.

The short version of your question was, "is Baptism necessary for salvation." The short answer is a paraphrase of the question. "Baptism is NOT necessary for Salvation, but Salvation IS necessary for Baptism." In Acts 10:44-48 The Holy Spirit came on ALL who heard the message that Peter was speaking at the home of Cornelius. When the people saw that the listeners had received the Holy Spirit (thus were born of the spirit) they were THEN ordered to be Baptized.
No one in the new testament times told anyone that hadn't ALREADY been saved to be Baptized. It would have been a meaningless gesture.

Thank you guys so much. Not only did you answer my question but you gave references so I could read also for myself.

Yes, Baptism is necessary to be go to heaven.
That has been shown here on other threads.
I've been studying that and more for about 70 years.
The bible is clear on that.
Mark 16: 16. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And the bible says that we must be born again by water and the holy spirit, that is being baptized, to go enter the kingdom of heaven.
John 3: no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
3. Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4. Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
5. Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7. "Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born again.'
Thus the Holy Spirit becomes to dwell with us and we are then a new more spiritual person with the Holy Spirit being our helper and guide.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

Fred, good points. Allow me to point out some things also on your points.
1. Mark 16:16 does not say whoever believes and is not baptized will be condemned. If you believe and have the opportunity you will be Baptized.
2. You misquote saying the Bible says we must be born AGAIN of water and the spirit. The "again" is not in there. You quote it correctly in #5. You also add "that is being baptized to go enter into the kingdom of heaven" to your The Bible says. If it is there quote it.
3. Yes, one must be born again. No mention of Baptism.
4. Continuation. No mention of Baptism
5. The actual quote you meant for number 2. Nicodemus talked about a fleshly birthing again. Jesus tells him you must be born of water(fleshly) AND of spirit (regeneration by God)
6. A continuation of the quote which doesn't mention baptism and seems to support the contention of a fleshly birth and a spiritual birth.
7. Absolutely. One must be born again. And again, no mention of Baptism.

Just some things to consider. We certainly agree one must be born again to enter the kingdom of God

All you are saying is that one must confess faith in Christ before being baptized. And I agree, that the confessed faith in Christ is the calling we are sent to answer first . In (Acts 8:36-37) the question of baptism was asked. (See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? ) The answer was (If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. )

Thus then baptized into Christ,we have put on Christ as it is written in (Gal 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.)

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. KJV

homesell, I feel that apprehension to think that both belief and baptism are necessary, can be the lack of accepting both faith and works are necessary. Faith and works are a dwelling within of spirit to be together.


John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. KJV

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. KJV

The image of righteousness is what Christ has brought to us. If we believe in HIS worthyness and all that is written concerning our bolted out sin, and that He set us free. Then we walk in Christ and Christ in us. In both images, we walk in the image of Christ when we believe and are baptized, and that notes the point of (Ye must be Born Again)

1 Corthinians 15:49 as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Yes sndbay, I know the bible says we must be born again. Without a doubt. What I said was the bible does not say we must be born again of water and the spirit.

Do you believe you must be baptized into Christ as written in (Gal 3:27) because I believe baptism was suffered by Christ unto the act of righteousness, and thus allowing us as in the image of God. That image of God is what we were created to be. Every step of the way in Christ was exampled unto us as the way. And this molds us to HIS way for Live verses death.

Baptism is being buried in Christ, dead in Christ and the sins of this world. So we are able to rise as He was raised.

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

the dead= baptized in the Lord

Rest in their labours = assurance and trust in what they do in Christ

Works follow them = reward of promise

Hebrews10:35-36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.