The debate is not about baptism per se. It is about whether baptism is necessary for salvation.
The Bible is very clear that we are saved by God's grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption. Baptism FOLLOWS salvation, as we see over and over again in the Bible. It is a command of Christ (Mt 28:19), and may not be neglected or ignored (Acts 10:46-48).
But the "water" which Christ said was necessary for the New Birth (John 3:5) is the "water" of the Word of God (the Gospel). The "clean water" of God (Ezek 36:25) is His living Word, which is alive and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb 4:12,13). Hence this is what Peter says about being born again in 1 Peter 1:23-25: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.
So the metaphors used for Scripture are many. It is called water, it is called incorruptible seed, it is called the Sword of the Spirit, and it is called the power of God unto salvation.
When the Gospel -- the true and full Gospel -- is preached, it generates faith. At the same time the Holy Spirit uses the Gospel to convince and to convict. Then sinners repent and are converted and their sins are forgiven (Acts 3:19) and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved (Acts 16:31). Then they receive the Holy Spirit (Ezek 36:27) and are born again. And the New Birth means a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek 36:26), which means a new creature (or creation) in Christ (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15):. All this is supernatural and has nothing to do with ordinary H2O.
Therefore those who teach that water baptism is necessary for salvation are promoting a heresy. And those who claim that water baptism is necessary for resurrection are promoting a fantasy.
