Baptism and salvation

Is baptism required for salvation? Why is it important to know? Afterall those who are baptized have faith. So whats the point of fighting over it?

If baptism is required for salvation, then those who say it isnt remove from the gospel. They believe in a false gospel and hence they are not saved. If, however, baptism isnt required for salvation, people who say it is required, add to the gospel and hence they arent saved. There can never be a win-win situation for both parties. Its either one party that wins or the other party that wins but not both.

The entire bible talks about salvation by grace through faith, not of works lest we should boast - Eph 2:8-10. And faith is equated to belief in Christ. Baptism is never equated to faith. It is an act of faith, but it isnt faith. Acts of faith are classified as works - see Eph 2:10 and hence can never save. People in O.T were saved by grace through faith, people during time of Christ were saved by grace through faith, so why would people after Christs death be saved by another plan of salvation, other than by grace through faith? Salvation by grace through faith applies perfectly to everyone ever since Adam.

Just because Paul said that Christ has a will in Heb 9 (do a word study on covenant, will) doesnt mean that Christ had a different plan of salvation after his death. People falsely conclude from examples that He changed the plan. But this is a human inference, never explicitly stated in the bible. And where humans enter, perfection ceases to exist. Hence i would be wary. Do not read too much into what is written. It is called eisegesis.

1 Jn 3:23 says the only commandments we received are to 'believe in Christ' and 'to love one another'. And this was written after the supposed plan of salvation was revealed to the apostles at pentecost. No command of baptism or rules of worship. If baptism is required for salvation, why did John forget to mention something as important as it? Yes, it is a command given by Christ, but it is not essential for salvation, otherwise Christ would have said so. And no, Jn 3:5 isnt it. If so, John would have mentioned it in 1Jn 3:23.

Also see Is Baptism required for salvation?