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 
Marc:
To explain what you ask about baptism. Verse 20 explains that water saved those in the ark, then compares that action to the message in verse 21 stating “baptism doth also now save us” and “And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you”
(1 Pet 3:20 KJV) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
(1 Pet 3:20 NRSV) who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 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,
Now, pay close attention to your own comments.
“The promise is fulfilled after being baptized in water? That holds true for those Jews in Acts 2:38 but Acts 10:44-48 clearly teaches the Holy Spirit was received before water baptism.” and “That the Gentiles had the Holy Spirit before their water baptism proves they were saved before they were water baptized.”
You recognize the event properly in Acts 2:38. You also recognize that Cornelius and his family were baptized in water, but your concern is that the spirit was given first, and therefore you want to use that example to explain that they were saved prior to the water baptism that you accept as part of Acts 2:38. This action of attempting to consider Cornelius saved prior to their baptism is exactly what modifies Jesus’s words in John 3:5 into a lie. I know this goes heavily against what you have been taught and believed, but remember if you hold true to what teachers have taught you and that opposes what the Holy Scriptures state. Are you willing to stand with them in the judgement or would you rather stand with Jesus?
These are powerful words and undeniable points. Thank you, Larry.
We’ve noted before that those for whom God’s Spirit have come upon were not all good or saved like Caiaphas and King Saul. Receiving the Spirit is not life, but rather being born of the Spirit (John 3:5, Titus 3:5), being sanctified and justified by the Spirit (1 Cor. 6:11), and setting the mind on the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-15)
Larry,
Many people from the church of Christ (and others) cite this passage so please provide evidence that the mention of “water” must mean Christian water baptism in the name/authority of the Lord Jesus (John 3:5).
Marc:
Would you accept Jesus’s own words regarding this subject? Notice, also the surrounding text to understand the complete context, also consult many translations that all that I have checked said Jesus made the same statement.
(John 3:5 NIV) Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
(John 3:5 NRSV) Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
(John 3:5 KJV) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Even if the Spirit was given first the saving (entering the church or Kingdom) (there is no salvation outside) cannot be done prior to both being accomplished. This is exactly why Cornelius and his family was baptized immediately. Are you are prepared to tell Jesus he told a lie.
Excellent point.
I am saying that in order to worship in the Spirit one must have the Spirit.
That the Gentiles had the Holy Spirit before their water baptism proves they were saved before they were water baptized.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit does not have to be mentioned every time their is a conversion. See letters a through h above.
Steve,
Ezekiel’s vision does refer to being baptized with the Holy Spirit.
The following terms synonymously describe what the Holy Spirit does only once to a person upon being saved/entering the NT Church (the filling of the Holy Spirit can occur again, Acts 9:17; Acts 13:9). Those in Acts 2:4 were already saved but it was this event that placed them into the NT Church.
a. Fell (Acts 8:16; 10:44; 11:15)
b. Poured (Acts 10:45; Titus 3:6)
c. Received (Acts 2:38; 8:17; 10:47)
d. Baptized (Acts 1:5; 11:16)
e. Filled (11:17; 15:8 cf. Acts 2:4)
f. Given (Acts 8:18; 11:17; 15:8)
g. Came (Acts 19:6)
h. Sealed (Ephesians 1:13)
The promise is fulfilled after being baptized in water? That holds true for those Jews in Acts 2:38 but Acts 10:44-48 clearly teaches the Holy Spirit was received before water baptism. Before this time these Gentiles did not possess the Holy Spirit so they could not worship in the Spirit (Philippians 3:3).
So you are saying that everyone who received the Spirit after being immersed in Jesus’ name could not worship in the Spirit? Or do you not recognize why God gave Cornelius’ household the Spirit in unique way from everyone else for a unique purpose (Acts 11:15-17, 15:7-9)?
Again, these passages that you present show the general pouring out of the Spirit and not the baptism of the Holy Spirit for all people in all times, which between Acts 2-10 shows this did not occur and there is no mention afterward.
There are other places where the Spirit is promised that do not refer to being “baptized with the Spirit” in the same way that we see in Acts 2 and Acts 10. For instance, Ezekiel says God promised to place his Spirit within us (cf. Ezekiel 36.26-27). This does not mean that we must all be baptized with the Holy Spirit; in fact, Peter says that this promise is fulfilled after we are baptized in water (cf Acts 2.38; the promise of the Holy Spirit is received after baptism in water).
Also, being spiritually minded (worshipping God in a spiritual way) does not necessitate being baptized by the Holy Spirit. God accepted and delighted in worship received from Cornelius before the Holy Spirit fell upon him (cf Acts 10.1-8, esp. v. 4).
You’re absolutely right.
Thanks for your opinion but when properly defined the words of the Bible speak otherwise.
But worshipping God in the Spirit (which you agree that they were doing) does necessitate they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.
No.
Colossians 2:12: All who have undergone this baptism have at the same time experienced the “circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11). The “true circumcision” (i.e., Christians) “worship in the Spirit” (Philippians 3:3). Since the Gentiles were worshipping in the Spirit (as you correctly affirmed) this means they were the “true circumcision”/Christians before their water baptism.
Thus Colossians 2:12 can not refer to water baptism but baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Irrational state. Worshiping God does not imply baptism of the Spirit. Phil 3.3 uses the word for worship found in Rom. 12:1. This is the offering oneself as a living sacrifice.
You overlook 1 Peter and 1 Corinthians references from before to baptism in Jesus’ name being buried with Christ, which is in water,
You’re saying that we are “buried with Christ in baptism” and buried in the Spirit. Or rather was our dead selves buried with Christ so that we can now be alive with Him? Are you saying that the Holy Spirit is now the spirit of death?
Notice that “buried” is a participle in verse 12 defining verse 11.
You never answered question #2.
Yes.