[NKP_Vet]

“Baptism is encouraged but not required for salvation”.

You need to try reading the Bible.

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit”. John 3:5

[metmom]

Physical birth and spiritual birth.

Born of water = Physical birth.

Born of the Spirit = spiritual birth.

Take your own advice.

[ealgeone]

Guess the thief on the cross is out of luck along with all the others who've died without being able to be baptized.

And from what I've seen roman catholics haven't been properly baptized as they sprinkle when the Word indicates immersion.

[Lera]

““Baptism is encouraged but not required for salvation”.

You need to try reading the Bible.

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit”. John 3:5”

born of water is not water baptism it is human birth
born of the Spirit is Spiritual birth and what makes a person a Christian sealed by the Spirit

Water baptism is a symbol of the person dying to self and living in the Spirit it is a testimony to the world
It has nothing to do with washing away any sin because water can not wash away any sin (water washing sins is a pagan concept not a biblical one )Only blood can cleanse sin .

Jesus was a Jew not a Greek . He spoke in the customs of his people not the pagan world .