I agree with your statement. That post lays the foundation for others that will follow and is directed at statements that are not correct.
The problem is the play on words of the thread. Necessary in obedience (NIO) vs. Essential "to" Salvation (ETE). Everyone that has spoken concerning NIO never said essential, while the ETE folk says that water has nothing to do with salvation and it did not exist until after the cross; this is not correct and my next post confirms.
The key to the Thread Question is "essential". The key to baptism understanding is the relationship between the two. More important is to understand how baptism "correlates" with "receiving salvation". What makes it just as important, is Jesus said to do it in Acts 10:42; "And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of G-d to be the Judge of quick and dead." Jesus commanded the Apostles to preach, preach what--the Gospel and what comes after his words, the Holy Ghost filled all that heard, then what, commanded them to be baptized.
Perfect example of Necessary vs. Essential. The Apostles acted upon what Jesus commanded them. When they spoke, it is Jesus speaking and what they performed after preaching the Gospel was baptize in water. The gift can only be given by Jesus. 1still_waters statement in a different post addresses this last sentence best.
Now, those that adhere to believing only in the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" can do as Adam and Eve and disobey because they do not believe what G-d said is necessary or they can ignore it according to "their" understanding.
I acknowledge that their is a small faction that believes water baptism is not necessary at all--it is my determination to leave that to the care and judgment of Jesus.
Hebrews 12:14; Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
In this world we are all very divided concerning authority because we have experienced so much of it's implementation over us through ones having a wicked heart. It is therefore quite easy to begin to feel like we cannot trust any man or woman in a position of authority these days.
And we can clearly see the effect upon the morals of the peoples over whom wicked ones rule as many blindly follow after the attitudes of those in authority over them as Hitler's soldiers did.
What really constitutes a wicked person? Does it require that a person be all bad? No it does not. All it requires is that they believe in their own way and opinions over God's ways and opinions, even if doing so unknown to themselves. For it is easy to believe we love God. But as Jesus told us, it is only the one who keeps his commandments that really does love him.
Therefore I hope that what everyone is trying to do is to become sure of what God commands of them.