Paul tells us that it is by way of baptism that one gets “into Christ” (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27).
Unless one is prepared to say that one is saved “outside of Christ”, then one must admit that it is a condition that must be met in order to be saved.
Baptism is said to be “for the remission of sins” and to “wash your sins away” (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
Unless one is prepared to say that one is saved without their sins being forgiven, then they must admit that baptism is a condition of salvation.
Above taken from this blog post.
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:37-38 NRSV-CI
Water and Spirit was there from the beginning. Every time God brings something new into creation it is there.
Genesis:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:1-2 ESV
Noah:
who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
1 Peter 3:20-22 NRSV-CI
The above image is taken from How to be Christian video “What Does Born Again Mean?“.