If Baptism saves you, then the Gospel is reduced to a Gospel of works, where something we do produces what scripture clearly says, only faith in what Christ Jesus can do.
preacherintraining, please read Ephesians 2:8-9.. "it's by grace you are saved and not by works, lest anyman should boast."
Why can't baptism be a requirement for salvation? Please see what Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Paul was discussing the problems of division in the church in Corinth and some were making baptism a reason for quarrels and division.
Paul states "I am thankful I did not baptise any of you except Crispus and Gaius.... Christ did not send me to baptise but to preach the Gospel, not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of it's power" 1Cor 1:13-17
These few verses teach us two important principles...
1. The whole question of whether to baptise or not and in whose name can and does become a reason for divisions that detract from the power of the Gospel
2. The greatest evangelist of all time, did not baptise, but preached the Gospel.
Now, having said that, It was a command of Jesus to His Disciples to go and baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that has been discussed very clearly by Alpha.
Baptism is to the Christian what circumscision was to the Jew.. it is an outward sign of an inward change. It is the picture of salvation, it is a meaningful act which publically expresses the change than has taken place inside a person's heart, and it is an outward picture of what it means to be buried with Christ in His death, and raised with Christ to a new life. It is an outward expression of the Christian of his/her willingness to be publically identified as a believer. It does not in itself make you a Christian. If it did, it would make something we ourselves do, make us acceptable to God, and this is impossible.
May God bless your search for His truth
Carol