There are many reasons why people accept baptism, but during the New Testament times, Baptism was the initiation rite to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. The person who accepted baptism pledged to trust him for eternal life and follow his teachings. Once we get baptized into the teaching of Jesus Christ, we become his disciples. We study him, we learn from him, and we walk according to his teaching.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 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.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Baptism is to identify with the burial of Jesus Christ.
And if we do that then we shall rise to newness of life.
So then baptism is required.
We have to identify with the man Christ Jesus who died, was buried, and rose from the dead by repenting, dying out to sin, being water baptized laying down those sins, and allowing the Spirit to lead us.
2Ti 3:4 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Not everybody allows the Spirit to lead them and do not abide in the truth.
Any person that says they cannot abstain from sin is holding on to sin and fall in to this dilemma.
They will have a wrong interpretation of baptism.
Act 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth 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.
Baptism washes away sins for it is when we lay down sins.
