Does the word, baptism, mean that water is necessary? John the Baptist baptized people in water but he spoke of the coming Messiah, Jesus, who would baptize people with the Holy Ghost and fire. Peter said that people should be baptized not in water or in the Holy Ghost but IN his name. The gift of the Holy Ghost would follow. Stop and think about what it means to be IN the name. It means something than simply speaking the name, does it not? The Baptist rebuked some who came to be baptized by him, because they lacked sincerity:
"And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Matt 3:6-7
Where does one get sincerity so as to really repent? How is it that any man is able to come to ask of God in a better attitude or spirit than the Pharisees and Sadducees?
How does a person lay hands on another person? We know about the physical, but what about that which is not physical? Look at a negative. Jesus spoke of a man sinning in his heart when he simply looked at woman lusting even though he never actually touched her body. Do our hands spiritual hands consist of only the two physical hands attached to our two to our arms?
Can we help a person by praying for them when the live 5,000 miles away from us? Can we touch God and touch that person even at that distance? God's answer should also be our own, I believe!
In the OT God was very specific in the detail of physical ordinances, but even then in that time God was looking something more from men than exact obedience to the letter of the law.
"O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:15-17
Why do you suppose Joshua and Caleb made it into the Promised Land [Canaan] but the other 600,000 men who followed Moses out of Egypt did not? Do you suppose it was because they had kept the letter of all those 613 laws perfectly? I really doubt that!
"But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it." Numbers 14:24
Do you have all of the answers to my questions? If you do not, are you definitely lost? Certainly not! Being saved is Not determined by some theology test! Ignorant and even illiterate people can be saved. They are when they please God rather than when they follow the established theology of even a good man or a good church group. Some people in every church group will not make it to the end with God. Why?
If we love God we do what we can when we can as we are led by God. Probably in every church group designated by men as Christian there are some who because of their hearts do please God in spite of the differences in ordinances and doctrines and requirements of the various groups. They please God and if they continue pleasing Him until they die physically would they not always be with Him? I believe so.
Again I do not presume that my answers alone are the correct ones any more than you should presume that the answers you have received a positioned minister in some church are correct. Continue seeking... what?
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" Matt 6:33