The Bible speaks of Baptisms—plural—not baptism. The three main ordinances of Church are: repentance of sin, believing Christ, and baptism in Christ and then the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us to be baptized by water.
Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” (Acts 19:4)
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
This is how I identify with Christ’s death. I am tied to his death and burial and then, when I come out of the water, I am tied to his resurrection life.
When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, the Egyptian army came after them and tried to retake them. And after they were on the way to the promised land, God opened the Red Sea and as the Egyptians armies reached the middle of the red sea, the Lord closed water on them and they drowned. Water baptism cuts off your past from controlling your future—you just need to reprogram your mind of that reality. It cuts the cords.
The other baptism is of the Holy Spirit. “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11) “John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” (Luke 3:16) “Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 11:16)
These baptisms are God’s empowering strategies to fill us with his Spirit and make us world changers. Everybody needs to be baptism in water and in the Holy Spirit.
You can be saved without those baptisms. If you confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior you will go to heaven. But if Jesus told us to do it, we should do it. We should follow his commands not because he said but because there is power in those things he asked us to do. “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (John 20:22)