Matthew's Gospel basically says the same thing; he wrote: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Mt. 28:19-20). I pointed out that, following a person's declaration of faith in the Gospel message that Jesus died for the sins of mankind, and the Father raised Him from the dead, he or she was to be baptized (1 Cor. 1:17).
There are some denominations which teach that baptism is necessary for salvation to occur. While I believe born again believers should publicly declare their faith in Jesus Christ through baptism, I do not believe it is required for a person to be saved. First of all, the verses above indicate that baptism follows salvation. Secondly, by carefully reading Mark 16:16, we see that it is faith that saves, and not baptism. Mark wrote: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Note that it is man's failure to believe that causes him to remain lost, not his failure to be baptized.
Another thing about which the Church is negligent in proclaiming, is the Trinity! The Gospel specifically mentions two members of the Trinity: Jesus, and His Father! Paul wrote:
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand ... how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
But Paul also clearly taught that it was God who raise up His Son Jesus (Rom. 4:24; 6:4; 7:4; 8:11; 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14; 15:15; 2 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; 1 Th. 1:10; 2 Tim. 2:8; etc.)! In addition, the Holy Spirit participated in Christ's Resurrection; Paul also wrote:
"But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Rom. 8:11)! And, "We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you" (2 Cor. 4:13-14)!
Willingness to be baptized in the names of the Trinity,
logically suggests one believes in the Trinity.
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