Baptism is a public display of your conversion to Jesus. That is why it must be immersion, not just getting your hair wet.
Show me 1 verse that either says says baptism is
“An outward sign of an inward change.”
“Only symbolic.”
“A public display of your conversion.”
If you cant show me a passage using that language or terminology, then its you who is going outside of scripture to support your beliefs.
I can biblically say
“Baptism saves” because that is what scripture says:
“There is also an antitype which
now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”
I Peter 3:21
I can biblically say “repent and be baptized to have your sins remitted” because that is what scripture says:
“Then Peter said to them, “
Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38 NKJV
I can say “believe and be baptized to be saved” because that is what scripture says(as you quoted earlier)
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Mark 16:16 NKJV
I can say “you have to be baptized to put on Christ” because that is what scripture says:
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:27 NKJV
I can say “you are buried with Christ and raised in His like, in baptism” because that is what scripture says:
“buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
Colossians 2:12 NKJV
I can say “you are born again and receive new life in baptism” because that is what scripture says:
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:4 NKJV
and
“Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.... After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and
baptized.”
John 3:5, 22 NKJV
If you cant find any verse saying something along the lines of
baptism is
“An outward sign of an inward change.”
“Only symbolic.”
“A public display of your conversion.”
then humble yourself, repent and submit to what Christians have always believed, that the merits of Christ are applied to us through faith at baptism.