In the end, there is NO verse in the Bible that actually teaches baptism is required for salvation, although there are one or two that MIGHT teach it. And more, there are many that clearly teach that man cannot “work” to gain salvation.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2
Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 3:24
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded.
By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of
faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is
justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 3
And if by grace, then is it no more of
works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if
it be of works, then is it no more grace:
otherwise work is no more work.
Romans 11:6
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we
do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is
the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he
hath sent.
John 6
And by him all that believe are
justified from all things, from which ye could
not be justified by the law of Moses.
Acts 13:39
Knowing that a man is not justified by
the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus
Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ,
that we might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by
the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified..
Galatians 2:16
And in addition to all of this, we have the example of the thief on the cross.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say
unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in
paradise.
Luke 23:43
This man, who repented on the cross and obviously died after Jesus as proven by his needing to have his legs broken after Jesus had already died, was granted forgiveness to be with Jesus that very day! He had no opportunity to do anything but to repent and to believe, both of which are clearly evident in the Scriptures. He most certainly was not Scripturally baptized.
While those who hold to Baptismal Regeneration may be sincere and seem to have some Biblical evidence for their beliefs, their view is not supported when one studies the Bible in earnest. Even worse, their belief causes contradictions with other Scriptures.
I hope this helps.
