Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God!
(2) In the second instance, there is achieved in the penitent a clear conscience upon the event of his submission to the ceremony, as affirmed by the apostle Peter (1 Peter 3:1).  See my Commentary on Hebrews,  Hebrews 9:13,14.  There is no way that any man on earth can have a clear conscience without submitting to baptism.  That is why even the churches that deny the necessity of baptism have not dispensed with it altogether.  Their consciences will not allow it, despite the fact that their doctrine, if heeded, would demand it.  The universal rejoicing that attends submission to the ordinance was in New Testament times (Acts 8:39; 16:34, etc.), as now, the certain evidence of a clear conscience.