Water baptism is a prerequisite to salvation. One must be water baptized, but that does not save us.
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Yet, we are saved by Christ's life...
Rom 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
The mechanisms involved are grace and faith...
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
by grace and through the faith of God, Christ's life (His resurrection) saves us.
*Edit*
Let me add that the seal we receive is the Holy Spirit to salvation.
Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Yet, one cannot continue wilfully in sin...
Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Heb 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
So, no matter what the board of deacons say, the pastor says or the grand imperial wizard says, the above is what the Word of God says.