1 Corinthians 1:17
For the Messiah did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel
Thanks you beat me posting the verse.
We can conclude from the above verse that water baptism is not the Gospel. We see this again in 1 Corinthians 15. Seems the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the focus of the Gospel message and those who believed this were baptized.
Why do people make this so difficult?
A one word answer.....
control