Some say that baptism is a symbol of salvation, and yet 1 Peter 3:21 says something else,
[T]he 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, which are antitypes of the heavenly ones. Within context, 1 Peter 3:20 speaks of the antitype of eight persons being saved through the waters of the flood. This salvation through water is a similar example to baptism, because God saves believers 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’s name when God saves believers 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; emp. added).
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). True believers are saved through water from a world a wickedness like Noah’s family was saved through water from a wicked world. Therefore, true believers 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, Christians are born again by obedience and purification. Peter revealed, “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.” God raises Christians when each one has died to sins. First Peter 2:24 declares, “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 the Christian’s resurrection into the newness of life with Christ (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).
Read again, “[T]hese are eight souls were saved through water. This is also an antitype, baptism now saves us” (1 Pet 3:20b–21a). The corresponding example of Noah’s salvation through water is baptism by water in Jesus’s name that saves all, who truly believe.
Also see these articles from other Christian sources:
How to Be Saved
What is the Purpose of Baptism?
Please Explain 1 Peter 3:21
The Breath of God 
1) First Peter 3:21 says that baptism a request for good conscience “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” by which we are born again “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3) when believers “have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…having been born again” (1 Pet. 1:22-23). Here is the death, burial, and resurrection, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Pet. 3:18) and “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24). First Peter 3:18 introduced saving baptism through water in 1 Peter 3:21. Clearly, water baptism is the baptism of burial of sins to be resurrected to newness of life in Christ.
General references to baptism are water baptism in Jesus’ name (Acts 8:12, 16, 38, 16:15, 33, 19:1-7, 22:16). There is only one baptism (Eph. 4:5). As seen with Matthew 28:19 (and Mark 16:16), baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit is the one baptism established by Jesus Christ in His resurrection. Jesus commanded this baptism and not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Colossians 2:12-13 speaks of being forgiven of trespasses being raised from this baptism burial. The same forgiveness is presented in Acts 2:38 where those being baptized are saved and added to the Church (Acts 2:41, 47, cf. Acts 22:16).
Baptism in Christ’s name is in water (1 Cor. 10:1-2, 1:11-13). This is the washing in Jesus’ name by which the Spirit works (1 Cor. 6:11, 12:13). This baptism is worthless without believing in the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:29).
This baptism is the baptism found throughout all the scriptures above, which is water baptism in Jesus’ name. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is only mentioned to have occurred twice and none in between.
Such as?
Add to these salvation in 1 Pet. 3:21 and Acts 2:41, 47:
The work of the Spirit in sanctification and justification – *1 Cor. 6:11, John 3:5, Titus 3:5
The work of the resurrection – *Rom. 6:3-7, Col. 2:12-13
Being added to the Church – Acts 2:41, 47, 1 Cor. 12:13 (1:11-13, 10:1-2)
Mercy, love, and grace essential to one being made alive – *Eph. 2:1-10
Christ washes the Church – *Eph. 5:26
The submission of faith necessary to receive the Spirit by the laying on of hands – *Acts 19:1-7, 8:12ff
The priestly sprinkling of blood and the washing of water now in baptism, and then also holding to one’s confession – *Heb. 10:22ff
The forgiveness of sins – *Acts 2:38, 22:16, Col. 2:12-13
You cited Colossians 2:12. Two questions:
1. Can you prove that Colossians 2:12 does not refer to the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
2. And were they worshipping in the Spirit in Acts 10:46 or not?
My husband and I have heard this taught so much, but when we studied it in-depth one morning, we really discovered a deep appreciation for it. I’d like to add, if I may, a concentration on Noah being saved through water. That was always a curious way to explain the flood in my opinion, since it seemed that without the water in the first place, they wouldn’t have needed saving.
But, Noah and his family were saved from the wickedness and sin of the world.
The water washed away the sin.
God used water to separate the righteous from the evil in the world. In the same way, today, God uses water to purge that sinful, old man and wipe us clean. Of course, the power is not in the water and the water is simply the tool God has chosen, but it is a powerful analogy that gives us another opportunity to marvel at His ways and His foresight.
Amen. It is so very clear. Thank you for your comment.
Water baptism is a beautiful picture of salvation.
and so much more.
Yes it does. Why couldn’t Noah have been saved prior to that as well?
Was Noah “in” the ark before the flood?
They were already in the ark before the waters of the flood.
Does not 1 Peter 3:20 say that Noah was saved through (Gr. dia) the water?
1 Peter 3:21
a. Robertson: The saving by baptism in which Peter here mentions is only symbolic (a metaphor or picture as in Romans 6:2-6) (Word Pictures in the New Testament).
b. The ark is a type of Christ (See Gleanings in Genesis: The Typology of the Ark, Chapter 13, Arthur W. Pink).
1. Before the waters of the flood came they were already sealed in the ark (Luke 17:27). Likewise, before one is water baptized today they are already sealed in Christ (Ephesians 1:13).
2. The ark was provided before the cataclysm so was Christ (Revelation 13:8).
3. The ark provided deliverance to Noah while Christ provides deliverance to us (Colossians 1:13).
4. There was only one ark and there is only one Savior (Acts 4:12).
5. God revealed the ark to Noah and God reveals Christ to us (2 Corinthians 4:6).
6. God waited patiently for those to come into the ark and He waits patiently for people to receive Christ (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9).
7. There was a limited amount of time to enter the ark (Genesis 7:11-13) just as there is a limited amount of time to receive salvation in Christ (2 Corinthians 6:2).
8. The ark was made of wood (Genesis 6:14). Christ was the root out of parched ground (Isaiah 53:2) and a branch (Isaiah 11:1).
9. The ark was to have a “cover/pitch” (kopher) inside and out (Genesis 6:14). It had no value without this covering. This same word “kaphar” (verb form) is used to describe the atonement because of the blood of Christ (Leviticus 17:11).
10. Inside the ark one was saved from God’s wrath – the same with Christ (John 3:36).
11. Only a few people were saved in the ark (Genesis 7:7) while only a few people will be saved in Christ (Matthew 7:13, 14).
12. The ark had only one door and God shut it (Genesis 7:16). Christ is the only door (John 10:9) and we are shut or sealed in Him (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30).
Christ is the Ark of salvation!
Besides your reference to Robertson, I completely agree. You make wonderful points.
We are only saved in Christ. How do we come into Christ? “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). I find that we are saved coming through the water as Noah came through the water and Israel came through the water of the Reed Sea (1 Cor. 10:1-2).
“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).
John 4…
Jesus and the Samaritan woman also had a conversation about water as well, at the well, and she was unable to distinguish between the physical water in the well, and the water that Jesus spoke of. She spoke of the water in the well that was designed to quench physical thirst, but Jesus was talking about Living Water, which is spiritual, and is able to quench the thirst of the soul to the degree that the soul would never “thirst” again. Living water is a gift from God…It is of grace…The Word of God says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”–Ephesians 2:8 NIV Grace bestowed through faith, or in connection with believing…This Scripture is contradicting your statement that baptism in water saves us. There are people who have, and who will accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior on their death bed, just like the thief who hung beside Jesus and said “remember me when you come into your Kingdom…” Jesus said this day you will be with me in paradise. The thief didn’t received the baptism in water…But. because he believed…he was instantly baptized into Living Water…and that would be Jesus Christ.
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” Read further…
“RighteousChoices”,
First, Jesus did not institute baptism in His name until He was resurrected, so the thief on the cross would not have to obey that which is of the new covenant. Also, baptism is a burial into Jesus’ death for resurrection., and Jesus had yet fulfilled that gospel. The thief may have been immersed by John the Baptist.
Ephesians 2:8 is based in the grace of the saving Gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-4, cf. Rom. 1:16). Keep Ephesians 2:8 in immediate context. Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,”, and see that necessity of death to sin to be resurrected in Eph. 2:4-6, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. It is amazing. Keep Ephesians 2:8 in remote context of Romans 6:3-7 in which baptism is when one is raised with Christ (cf. Col. 2:12-13, 20-22, 3:1-5). We must conform by faith to the death to be raised (Phil. 3:9-11). Remember faith without words is dead (Jas. 2:17, 24). These are the works of faith and not the works of the Law (Rom. 3, Gal. 5:1-4, etc.).
You must realize that with John 4 and thief on the cross that you mixing those under the Old Covenant without considering the New Covenant following the death of Christ (Heb. 9:16-18).
May God bless you to reconsider your position in light of the scriptures. I willing to do the same according to the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Do you think I teach against Christ because I don’t think Christ is “conceptual,” as you do. You try to fit Christ into your box of logic as if His Life represents nothing but laws and rules to which we mechanically adhere so that we can earn our way to heaven by doing so.
The context of the entire NT is about becoming transformed of mind, not just behavior as you promote. You view the NT as just another set of laws and rules that we are created to be mechanically obeyed so that heaven can be acquired by doing so. You totally ignore the scriptures that teach that we are made strong through weakness. Instead you promote a system of reconciliation through pro-action by the flesh. Your message is about motivation and determination by the flesh as if the flesh were capable of winning the war against itself. It ignores the fact that it is Christ within us is our strength.
And you say that I teach against Christ? I do teach against your conceptual christ because this is not the Christ that is taught in the NT? You’re still invested in your ability to live according to words that your intellectually process.
Yes, I do strongly oppose the conceptual christ that you promote.
Phil, This is the last warning to quit slander and word-wrangling. You say that I view that NT is a way that my words never testify of, I never agreed to, nor has ever entered my heart and mind. You are protesting a straw-man.
Present and discuss scripture or quit making comments here. I will remove your comments from now on that do not present scripture. I may remove everyone of them.
Scott,
Are your rules such that scripture cannot be understood spiritually?
If you will give specific example of where I have slandered you and twisted words then I will be glad to deal with your protest regarding this.
I have given you plenty of scripture that supports what I have stated. You disagree with my understanding of scripture. Does this make it wrong? No! You have as much right to your version of Truth as I do and you have the right to dismiss me from this site, but it will look bad on your part if you do.
I have stated that dying to self is as much a process toward salvation as anything else and I have given scriptures to support what I have stated. Why are you opposed to what I have given biblical support? Do you oppose the spiritual principle of “let go, let God?”
You have called me a false teacher (among other things) and have condescended me and others here on many occasions. You have called me a liar by stating that I did not grow up in the conservative coC, even though I did and have plenty of proof. You have no proof that I did not. Why am I held to a different standard than you?
Yes, I have been very direct with you, but no more than you have to me. I tend to use the same tone that is used toward me. I expect that those who dish it out can take it as well. Maybe not!
You accuse me believing stuff that I’ve never confession nor have ever entered by heart. That is slander. You lie, You lied about being a member of the church of Christ when you say that we believe things that we do not.
Here is your example of your slander. Look at this comment, the one before that, and the one before that.
You said, “You lie, You lied about being a member of the church of Christ when you say that we believe things that we do not.”
What did I say about what the coC believes that they do not? Be specific. I spent 35 tears in the conservative coC. Believe me, I do know what they teach.
The coC believes that works of obedience (to commands) are required for one to inherit heaven and yet they say that one cannot work their way into heaven. HUH? Am I wrong about this? Is this the type of belief that the coC does not hold? What lie do I hold that does not represent your coC?
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21, cf. Heb. 5:9, 1 Pet. 1:22-23).
I didn’t say that you didn’t grow up in some “conservative church of Christ”. You just don’t know anything about the Church of Christ.
How do you like the picture here?
Is there any way I can convince you to love Jesus, His words, His life, His death, burial, and resurrection?
May God bless you to turn to Jesus’ words in the New Testament.
You said, “You just don’t know anything about the Church of Christ.”
Really? I spent 35 years in the coC and I don’t know what they teach? Have they changed their beliefs that much in the last 25 years? Please enlighten me here. What false ideas do I have about the coC. Again, be specific.
BTW, why do you imply that I don’t love Jesus?
Just as you encouraged me to “turn to Jesus’ words in the New Testament,” I really wish you would turn to God’s Spirit that resides with you. You are missing the Spiritual aspects of Christianity.
Let me share a story that make a good point about how you appear to approach your Christianity:
A man wanted to reach a high level of enlightenment though intellectual practices and processes. He studied books about math and became a Mathematician. He studied books about history and became an Historian. He studied book about the stars and became an Astronomer. He then studied books about swimming….and he drowned!
Scott, you will drown spiritually if you just read and put into practice the textual commands of the NT. There is a deeper relationship with Christ that you are intended to experience apart from the text. Christ lives in your heart, He does not live in the text. At some point you must put your Bible down and live from the Spirit of Christ that resides in your heart. Not that you should render you Bible useless, but dependence on it must fade away as you grow in Spirit. The Bible was made for man, not man for the Bible. Please remember this!
Not sure what your point is here, Scott.
Yes, Jesus did appear in the flesh but that does not mean that he was asking for us to use the flesh to connect with Him. His appeal was to the Spiritual aspects of our consciousness, and not the physical actions of our flesh. I would hope you agree with this obvious truth.
I think you misunderstand the point of Peter here. I’ve read enough commentary of this passage from Bible scholars to be comfortable with the fact that Peter was not saying that physical water saves. this and other passages just do not support the fact that water is where salvation happens. Particularly Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
I think you would have this scripture say, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and water…..”
Water Baptism is not a gift of God. Eph. 2:8 states that salvation is agift of God?. Would you suggest that water baptism is a gift of God?
You should read the article posted above about “Baptism now saves us”.
Keep Ephesians 2:8 in context of the Gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection in which is baptism. You teach Ephesians 2:8 like a true sectarian. Only sectarians use scripture to teach against Christ.
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together” (Eph. 2:1-6a).
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).
Sorry Scott, you have simply missed the fact that anything physical cannot be used to enter into a unseen Spiritual Kingdom. The water is physical and able to be seen. The Spiritual Kingdom of Heaven is unseen and cannot be entered into by anything physical.
Not sure you can understand this with your mindset that we are to live by commands, laws and the text.
Phil, Jesus came in the flesh. He was physical. His death, burial, and resurrection were physical and necessary for our salvation. Do you believe that Jesus misunderstood this? Do you think that Peter was wrong?