Gentiles would not have had the same frame of reference toward water baptism as Jews.
And you base this on what?
Still it leaves you with no excuse for attempting to confuse conversion with baptism.
The simple truth is that water baptism occupies an integral part in the conversion process in all but five of the conversion examples. We are told explicitly in both Acts 2:38 as well as Acts 22:16 that water baptism is directly connected with the removal of sin and the receiving of the Holy Spirit.
Is water baptism necessary for salvation?
Decidedly yes.
Is one completely saved and sealed unto eternal life without water baptism?
I simply cannot see this based on the stress that the NT places on the purpose and function of water baptism.
What Does God Accomplish for Us in the Act of Baptism?
1. God takes away our sin, Acts 2: 28; 22:16, Romans 6:3, and Colossians 2:11. God removes that which prevents us from being reunited with God.
2. God brings us into Christ, Romans 6:3-6. This makes us his possession.
3. God clothes us with Christ, Galatians 3:27. We are now able to share in his righteousness.
4. God adds us to the body of Christ, 1Corinthians 12:13. He makes us part of a body of fellowship that God has called his people.
5. God makes us a new creature in Christ, Romans 6:3-21, Colossians 2:11-13. He has given us new life by destroying the old man of sin and recreating us in the image of God.
6. God frees us from the bondage of sin, Romans 6:3-21. We are now privileged to be servants of righteous and of the Most High God. We no longer have to be held in bondage to the sin that once enslaved us.
7. God saves us and gives us a clean conscience, 1Peter 3:18-21. We no longer have to be tormented in our minds because God has saved us from the sin that plagued our hearts.
What is it That Saves a Person?
There is a variety of elements the Bible speaks of as being part of the salvation process. These include:
1. Faith. “
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians. 2:8.
2. Belief. “
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.” Acts 16:31.
3. Confession. “
For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10.
4. Baptism. “
The like figure unto which even baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1Peter 3:2.
5. Hope. “
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Romans 8:24-25.
6. Grace. “
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians. 2:8
7. The gospel. “
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and in which you stand; By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain.” 1Corinthians. 15:1-2.
8. And even fear. “
and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 23. It is not intended that anyone simply choose one of these elements and disregard the others. One cannot for instance, choose to only believe without any regard for confessing Jesus as Lord and Christ and declare himself saved. One cannot simply choose to be baptized and disregard faith and declare himself saved. Jesus said, “
man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.
Faith, belief, confession, baptism, hope, grace and fear all have their divinely appointed function within the framework of salvation. To disregard or marginalize the importance of any one these elements represents a disregard for what God tells us in scripture. Any one of these alone will save no one. The exercise of all of them will save anyone. God has ordained all of these things to work together so man can “
…be reconciled to God. For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2Corinthians 5:21-22.
We must remember that God offers us salvation on God’s terms, not ours. If we choose to deviate from the terms and conditions God has provided we can not hope to receive the benefits that are connected to them.