The Narrow Path Ministries

Is it a natural response to salvation or an intricate requirement of salvation?

"an intricate requirement?"

I don't know what you mean.

Salvation and baptism are the same thing, but baptism by the Spirit in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The water baptism is simply a memorial that is our act of publicly being identified with and in Christ. Water baptism is not required for salvation, but it is commanded by our Lord. Someone who has truly been baptized into the body of Christ would have the desire to obey Lord Jesus and receive a water baptism.

So it is a natural response, once the new believer is made aware of the commandment of the water baptism.

Jeff wrote:

The water baptism is simply a memorial that is our act of publicly being identified with and in Christ.

But nowhere in the scriptures is baptism described as a "memorial" or "testimony", nor in any of the conversion narratives in Acts does anyone act as if that is the meaning of baptism. Otherwise, why would Paul baptize the jailer in the middle of the night? Why not wait until the morning and, hopefully, draw a crowd? Why did they consistently and promptly baptize converts? "Publicly" is irrelevant to the act of baptism, although it is nice to see it happen that way.

Jesus, in Matthew 28, commanded that we make disciples by baptizing them "into" (eis, a Greek prepostion that denotes motion to or unto an object) the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thus we are said to be "baptized into (eis) Christ", Galatians 3:27. That is the norm for Christian conversion.

1 Peter 3:21 (New International Version)
21. and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Baptism is an act directed toward God, and only secondarily toward man. There is no requirement for witnesses.