God commands us to be baptized, when we do not out of choice, then we are in disobedience, but it does not lose us our salvation.
Baptism is a matter of obedience not determining our salvation. Christians disobey God all the time, it is not a matter of salvation. God disciplines those who belong to them, but He does not remove their "changed into a new creation" status.
Christians do disobey often. God will bring consequences and chastisement until one confesses and changes their behavior. The Holy Spirit will bring guilt to that end.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
Just because something is not necessary does not mean its unimportant. Obedience to God is always important. God said that there are those who will barely make it to heaven because they had little to no fruit. They were saved but did not always obey.
By the way: Everyone will have some dross to be burned away. How much is up to God.
1 Corinthians 3:15 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
The Holy Spirit never ever says that water baptism is necessary for salvation, however no one can be saved who is not baptized in the Holy Spirit. IF the Holy Spirit does not dwell in someone then they are not saved no matter how many times or how vigorously they proclaim that they are Christians.
We must differentiate between the expression of our salvation through water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the water baptism we are obeying to demonstrate that we have been born again, its obedience to Christ. In the baptism of the Holy Spirit God is sending Christ to live in us, its all His work and to seal us with His Spirit as a guarantee that we belong to Him.
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
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