Water baptism is essential to salvation.

You are changing your argument. First round you said nothing about what being born of the spirit. You are now saying a spiritual birth by baptism. This should seem off from the start. John 3:6 says"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."A baptism is a physical process. It is daft to say born of the spirit is spirit when it is physical. Spirit means"a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting"http://www.blueletterbible.org...How do you baptism an immaterial thing with material water? It is as daft as saying "I got hit in the spirit with rock."The text doesn't refer to baptism of water. Baptism into is about a public identification. Baptism into is in the new testament a few times1 Corinthians 10:2: and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 1 Corinthians 12:13: For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.Galatians 3:27: For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.Baptism into isnt the act of baptism but the symbol of baptism. The icon you are being baptized with. The text is about the public affirmation of what you are saved into.Mark 16:16You did not talk about my argument that 9-20 is of questionable reliability and you didnt talk about my other argument either. I didnt say Jesus has to turn around and say if you're not baptized you are not saved I am saying you cannot infer from mark 16:16 that baptism is necessary. You are making a straw man fallacy. Think of my example. You cannot infer from "Cats have fur" that "A furless animal isnt a cat". Same principle. You are making a strawman and a negative inference fallacy.My argument against itYou said "baptism isn't a work you can boast about. It's yielding to the will and way of the Lord." Why cant you boast about yielding the will of the lord? It is quite conceivable for one to do so. Yielding to the way of the lord is a very boastable thing if someone is trying to do the holier than thou act. Thats not the most important part. Eph says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith". Faith is a nonphysical act. How Abraham and Noah showed faith is irrelevant. What is important is that he was justified through faith. His works showed his faith but his works are contingent his faith is what matters.The idea of being baptized is necessary for salvation is silly. Baptism doesnt do anything to your belief or do anything to make you love god. It is a symbol. It is absurd to think a God would send someone who believes in him, worships him, prays to him, preaches for him, loves him to burn in hell because he didn't get dipped in water. It is no the picture of a loving God.Questions"Now you say that the Bible repeatedly says that works aren't necessary for salvation. So are you saying that we're saved by faith only?"Yes"Do we bury the living or the dead?"The dead obviously what does this have to do with the debate?"Can you show me where in the New Testament where a individual was promised,received, or was said to have received, a new life or second birth without baptism being involved?"The thieves on the cross.Luke 23:39-4339 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren"t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don"t you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."and the beggar"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham"s side. The rich man also died and was buried."