Water baptism is to the church what circumcision was to the jew. A way to add works of the flesh to the gospel of Grace, and pervert the gospel of Christ.
Wonder why God commanded both?
"He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money,
must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his
foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." Gen 17:13-14 (Old Testament dispensation requirement - circumcision (received name on that day))
"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 alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt 28:19-20 (New Testament dispensation requirement - water baptism (received name on that day))
Paul said water baptism constituted a type of circumcision made without hands:
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." Col 2:11-12