Why does the Church teach that Baptism is Necessary for Salvation?

"Baptism now saves you" is one of the phrases we hear in the rite of Baptism.

But why would this be? Isn't it unfair of God to make Baptism a necessity when some people will never even hear about Jesus, let alone know that they should be Baptized?

There are so many verses throughout the New Testament that make it clear that Salvation and Baptism go hand in hand.

Mark 16:16: "The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned."

1 Peter 3:21: And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

John 3:5: "Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit."

(and many more)

But here's the key: the Catechism says that while God has bound salvation to Baptism, He Himself is not bound by the Sacraments.

The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments. (CCC 1257)

This means that anyone who, by no fault of their own, is not Baptized, may still be saved if they were fully unaware that they needed to be Baptized through no fault of their own (what the Church calls invincible ignorance) and responded to the grace God had extended them throughout their life. This is why we believe that children who die before being Baptized, people who have never heard the Gospel, or catechumen who wish to be Baptized but die before receiving the Sacrament, very well still could be saved! God isn't trying to trick us. He wants us in Heaven even more than we want to be there!

Baptism isn't optional; it's the ordinary means by which God washes away original sin, rebirths us as His children, and incorporates us into the Body of Christ.

This is why Jesus gave us the command to go out and baptize: " Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matt 28:19)

So go. Be baptized. Invite others to the Church- to Baptism, as Jesus commanded. It's this incredible gift that God has given to humanity- to be washed by water and filled with the Spirit, granted salvation. To say that Baptism is necessary for salvation is not a death sentence- It's an invitation to eternal life.