Words About Baptism
Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
In this portion of scripture at Jesus's crucifixion. One of the thieves were saved simply by trusting Christ for salvation. Baptism was not required for his salvation.
Baptism is the first step of obedience as a child of God. At the moment we truly believe and accept Christ as Savior the Holy Spirit comes in to abide with us. This is what we call being born again. We are Baptized as a symbol of our old selves being buried into His death and then arising as a new person in Christ Jesus. Baptism is a public expression to the world that you have came alive in Christ and you are now a new creature.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
To say Baptism is required would mean it takes more than what Christ did at the cross. Jesus paid the full price at His death and it was enough.