Many today fall into the same category as those in the church of Rome. They too, did not comprehend the significance of their submitting to God's command to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul confirms baptism's purpose is for far more than a public display. Paul's explanation confirms that in baptism a person is buried with Jesus into His death where the old man is crucified with Him...
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
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.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed," Rom 6:3-6
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
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.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed," Rom 6:3-6