Baptism now saves you...

Father, your creation declares your greatness and lovingkindness, encouraging statements of pure truth in our daily walk... I often wonder why we, in the 21st-century, think we're more superior than the apostles who were with Jesus in the first century. Teaching after teaching, example after example in the New Testament, lead  believers to be baptized (immersed) into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but you wouldn't know that by our present practices. Infant baptism and praying Jesus into our hearts, seems to be the easy path WE have chosen to attempt to lead others to salvation, the convenient way, at least in the eyes of those living in present times. But that wasn't the case in the first century; for Jesus said, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized (immersed) will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬-‭16‬) ‬‬Why is belief in Jesus tied so inseparably to baptism (immersion) in His name? I don't know, but it is a scriptural fact so I choose to place importance on those teachings. Peter who was with Jesus wrote concerning its importance when he wrote, "God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, 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." (1 Peter 3:20-21) ...Thank you, Jesus, for showing us that you are the way, the truth, and the life; THE answer for those committed to seeking the truth in all things!