Baptism and salvation

Yes. Jesus said that it is the lack of faith, not the lack of Baptism, that condemns (Mark 16:16).

Baptism is not absolutely necessary in that the Holy Spirit can bring people to saving faith through the Word alone. In cases like that, people will still want to be baptized—to do what Jesus says and to receive, in addition to the message of the Bible, another guarantee of God’s love and forgiveness in Christ.

Baptism is necessary in the sense that the Lord commands us to administer Baptism. It is not for us to decide whether or not we are going to do what the Lord says.

Your question is a good reminder of the blessings of Baptism: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).