1 Peter 3:20-21
“...God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
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:”
I believe the water mentioned in 1 Peter 3:20-21 pertains to water baptism for the following reasons:
1.The water was the means God used to carry Noah and his family to safety. The sin of the world was washed away in the flood waters. The like figure or antitype is the NT water baptism. (Acts 2:38, 22:16)
2. Notice verse 21 makes specific mention of the process having nothing to do with the removal of filth from the flesh. (This is a reference to bath water) Thus, the comment points to a spiritual transaction taking place.
3. The scripture mentions that baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God. Our own behavior, and in this particular case getting baptized, is what prompts a good conscience. The result is to be free of guilt. God is the giver of the Holy Ghost and we have no control over that other than asking for Him to give it.
4. Lastly, the scripture specifies this is only made possible by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
yes being baptized in water is an act of faith. We do it because we believe the e promise of the result we’re convinced of what God said
“To him give
all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
Acts 10:43 KJV
“For this is
my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Matthew 26:28
the gospel is completely about hearing and believing what you hear of the gospel baptism works like this if we have faith
“Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For
the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
..Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls.”
Acts 2:38-39, 41 KJV
they gladly received the
word of the promise of remission of thier sins if they believed what Peter had been preaching of Jesus and were baptized in his name .
that’s faith. To hear what the gospel declares , believe it and act upon it , being baptized in water for remission of our sins should be the first act of faith we step in .
it’s a clear pledge by Gods word that if you get baptized in Jesus name buried in the water and raised up from the water he will remit your sins , it happens through Christs death and resurrection and the baptism of our faith into Christs gospel and promises
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
Romans 6:3-4, 6-12 KJV
to understand and believe the doctrine of baptism is immensely important because we’re saved by faith and walking by it in things like hearing the doctrine of remission of sins through baptism into Christs name , death , resurrection .
When we by faith are buried in the water , and lifted up from the water , we then by our act of faith are included in his death for our sins and they are remitted from our account forever and we are also freed from the law by this death through faith
Paul still helping explain the doctrines of baptism how we died with him in baptism and so ….
“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that
the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? …..Wherefore,
my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the blody of Christ;
that ye should be married to another, (the gospel ) even
to him who is raised from the dead,( Jesus ) that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”( Matthew 13:18-23)
Romans 7:1, 4 KJV
“Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.”
Matthew 13:18 -23
baptism is a simple thing we do it because we hear the gospel of repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ and we act upon the belief of Gods oath and it applies to all People
“And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that
believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
important it doesn’t say “ if you believe and aren’t baptized your damned “ but leaves a loophole for believers who aren’t able to or didn’t understand about baptisms importance
belief of the true gospel is enough but baptism is part of its doctrine meant to be heard and believed and acted upon like the entire word of God is meant for
this is his oath in scripture to anyone who steps forth because they believe it and act in faith of getting baptized. Knowing he promised remission of sins through belief and doing what the word says
We’re acting on a pledge from God when we get baptized ( or obey anything else of the gospel we’re taught ) we have Gods word repeatedly assuring us in scripture that we have now been cleansed of our past sins. And are given access to a cleansing flow of mercy and truth available for our current and even future mistakes and short comings through repentance , acknowledgement and then letting God forgive and forget our sins and also leaving them behind our self
none of this was possible under the law this new way of cleansing the sinner as they learn and repent and grow in faith this period of grace given To us letting sinners repent and get right and have thier sins cast away as if they never happened only baptism into Christ offers this belief leads to action