Some say that baptism is a symbol of salvation, and yet 1 Peter 3:21 says something else,
“the forbearance of God waited in the days of Noah building a ship unto which a few, these are eight souls were saved through water. This is also an antitype, baptism now saves us, not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the request of a good conscience unto God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (1 Pet. 3:20-21).
What is an antitype? The word “antitype” is from the Greek antitupos. The Greek anti meaning “corresponding, similar, or like” to tupos meaning “form, model, example, or pattern (type)”. Hebrews 9:24 speaks of the physical things and services of Israel’s temple are antitypes of the heavenly ones. Within context, 1 Peter 3:21 speaks of the antitype of eight persons being saved from through the waters of the flood. This salvation through water is a similar example to baptism, because believers are saved through water. Noah’s salvation through water is a “like figure” to salvation through water. Noah’s family being saved from evil through water is a like model of baptism in Jesus’ name in which believers are saved from evil through water.
“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.‘ Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added” (Acts 2:40-41).
First Peter 3:21 specifically says in Greek that “baptism now saves us”. How? It is not the water that saves, but we are saved through water. It is written that Christ sanctifies and cleanses His Church “by the washing of water in the Word” (Eph. 5:26). We are saved through water from a world a wickedness like Noah’s family was saved through water from a wicked world. We are purified by our obedience in which we are born again.
“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,” (1 Pet. 1:22-23).
Therefore, we are born again by obedience and purification.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Pet. 1:3).
Notice that we are begotten again, born again, “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”, which is what we find about being saved by baptism in 1 Peter 3:21, “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”. We are resurrected when we have died to sins. First Peter 2:24 states, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness“. Baptism is the point of our resurrection (1 Pet. 3:21). Baptism is the burial of our sinful selves, which is the Gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 3:18, cf. 1 Cor. 15:1-4).
“[T]hese are eight souls were saved through water. This is also an antitype, baptism now saves us“, which is a verbal translation of the Greek text. The corresponding example of Noah’s salvation through water is the Christian baptism that saves us.
Also see these articles from other Christian sources:
Is Baptism a Symbol?
How to Be Saved
What is the Purpose of Baptism?
Please Explain 1 Peter 3:21
Marc:
I have been very glad that you have proposed many options about your belief of baptism. Not very many men that I have encountered communicated about their convictions long enough to receive the amount of response that you have. Because of your commitment to voice your opinion, many reading these posts will learn more about God’s Word on baptism than they would have ever learned from their preacher or classes in a church. I am very sorry that you have chosen to begin quoting from uninspired men, and using words from the original languages to try to support your theories. Since I have no knowledge of those languages, I also would have to accept the opinions of the translators and commentary authors that were not inspired. I truly believe that God’s has overseen translating of his word so his message cannot be distorted unless you create that distortion. I believe that the complete message in the scriptures was written so the very men that were accepting his word could understand it, in opposition to being written to an elite group of scholars or scribes that did not accept it. Since it was the common men that accepted it, I believe that common men can fully understand it in their own language. God himself supports that view through Paul’s words.
(2 Tim 3:16 NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 7 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Since you have chosen to divert the authority form God’s word to these men. I will abstain from any further communication. For there is no place that we would ever agree on this subject. I do plan to be upholding Christ’s messages on the day that I will stand in judgment before him. Rather than standing with others that have never been authorized by Christ to revile messages to men.
I will pray for and solicit prayers form others that read these messages that God will open our understanding in such a way that his word will prevail in our lives. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this subject with you.
Larry,
I knew my questions wouldn’t get adequately answered from those form the church of Christ. The questions reveal the deficiency of their position. Notice my last two questions above I haven’t cited any lexicons/dictionaries in this discussion. So your assertion is simply a cop out.
I am sorry that you refuse to believe how words are properly defined though. You quote yourself (your opinions) but then are against what the dictionaries say. In ‘Through the Looking Glass’ Humpty Dumpty said, “When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean…”. I can not think of a more succinct quote that so accurately describes the church of Christ approach to redefining the words of the Bible. Fairy tale word games have absolutely no place in Christianity.
See “Baptist Roots Call for the Reformation of Baptist Beliefs“.