Baptism is a symbolic act and a public admittance of who we are in Christ. We can't come to Him without letting go of ourselves.
"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God." Romans 6:8-10
Death was necessary because of who we are. Resurrection was possible because of who Jesus Christ is.
11 "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:11-14
Law allowed us to understand our sin. We now fall under grace.
Slaves weren't seen then as they are now. Someone could willingly become a slave if someone would take him on. He would then fall under the master's physical and legal protection.
16 "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Romans 6:16
It's time to choose who your Master is going to be. It's time to choose a side. For or against Jesus. Sin or grace. On God's team or against God's team. Make the commitment.
When I accept Him I am honoring His sacrifice. Christ died once for all.
17" But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 6:17-18
19 "I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!" Romans 6:19-21
What benefit did you get in and from sin?
Through Christ our sins are forgiven and forgotten (really!).
Go back to your master and admit mistake.
22 "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God,the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:22-23
If you haven't surrendered yourself completely, you haven't at all. God wants 100% of you.