This verse was very specific; to the Jews who were present and participated in the crucifixion by their chants, etc. It does NOT apply to anyone today. Only those who were THERE.
I don't know where you get this "symbol of a symbol" thing. Or did you just make it up?
New International Version
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
New Living Translation
And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
English Standard Version
Baptism, which corresponds to this, 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,
Berean Study Bible
And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Berean Literal Bible
which also prefigures
the baptism now saving you, not a putting away of
thefilth of flesh, but
the demand of a good conscience toward God, through
theresurrection of Jesus Christ,
King James Bible
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:
New King James Version
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
New American Standard Bible
Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
So, where do you see "symbol of a symbol" in any of these common translations?
This is from the internet:
an•ti•type ăn′tĭ-tīp″
n. One that is foreshadowed by or identified with an
earlier symbol or type, such as a figure in the New Testament who has a counterpart in the Old Testament.
n. An opposite or contrasting type.
n. That which is
prefigured or represented by a type, and therefore is correlative with it; particularly, in theology, that which in the gospel is
foreshadowed by and answers to some person, character, action, institution, or event in the Old Testament.
I suggest you do some research before inserting foot in mouth.
So, yes, water baptism IS a symbol of the baptism that DOES SAVE you. That IS what 1 Peter 3:21 says.
Are you aware of what John the baptizer said about Jesus:
Mark 1;8 - I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Do you understand what he meant?