Baptism Now Saves Us

How was Noah and his family saved by water? ". . . in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." Is the type.
". . . whereunto even baptism doth also now save us . . . ." Is the anti-type of the type. The type is the thing, the anti-type is a picture of that thing. ". . . like figure . . . ."

 

It was a dry baptism! Haha

 

*1 Peter 3:17-22*

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 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, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
*1 Peter 4:1-2*

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.


Let us take a look at what Peter is telling us. Here he is talking about suffering for Christ. Within this context he illustrates Jesus who, during his death, went to the spirits who did not believe and proclaimed his Supremacy as the Promised One.
Peter illustrates the Ark as a foreshadowing of Jesus. Just as God put Noah and his family into the Ark and then sealed the Ark shut while the Ark was immersed in the flood, so all those whom God has sealed up in Christ have been brought through (immersed in) the flood of suffering and judgment because God saves them in the Ark, which is Christ Jesus.

We have been brought through. We are now opened to heaven and as Paul reminds us, we are now seated in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus.

This imagery used here by Peter is beautiful language showing the Sovereignty and Supremacy of Christ Jesus as our "Saving Ark" into which we are sealed and saved through the storm.

 

who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised up because of our being declared righteous.

 

When you are "talking about suffering for Christ," that's weak, but when you say, "All those whom God has sealed up in Christ have been brought through (immersed in) the flood of suffering and judgment because God saves them in the Ark, which is Christ Jesus," that's quite good. You just need to go on the next verse (for crying out loud) and acknowledge that according to St. Peter, we undergo that saving flood via Baptism.

 

That saving flood was when we were immersed into Christ Jesus and sealed into him. Christ Jesus is the Ark and we go through the flood in the "Ark of our Savior."

Baptism means to immerse. It does not specify that it must be immersion in water. When we are in Christ, we are immersed, baptized, into Christ. We are sealed. We are kept safe in Christ.

That is what Peter is getting at. He even tells you that he isn't talking about water. Study this passage and understand that water baptism does not save you.

 

That's not what Peter says though, you can't make it up and force it into the text.

It's most naturally "water" unless the context determines otherwise, which in this passage it doesn't, and actually affirms it since the type is literally the flood water.

No, actually he says it doesn't save you because of what the water does physically, but it saves you because of what baptism does internally. I have studied the passage, and its been a consistent exegesis until the 15th century.

 

This is a post I wrote a number of years ago.

Baptism does not Save

Baptism is not a requirement of salvation. For someone to teach that faith + water baptism is a requirement for salvation, is to teach another gospel than was taught by Paul. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Paul did not make water baptism a part of his gospel message and went so far as to say that Christ did not send him to baptize but only to spread the gospel message. 1 Corinthians 11:17 This would seem to be a major oversight if water baptism were indeed necessary as no one would have been saved.

If baptism were necessary for salvation then how do you deal with the paralytic man Matthew 9:2, the penitent woman Luke 7:37-50, the tax collector Luke 18:13-14, and the thief on the cross Luke 23:39-43. Was Jesus just misleading them? Were they still lost in their sins since none were baptized?

We know that some will say “what about Acts of the Apostles 2:38 and Mark 16:16 they both say we have to be baptized. Well let us look at each in turn. Acts of the Apostles 2:38 says "repent and be baptized"... For us to understand this text we must look at the context, what prompted the cry "Brethren, what shall we do?" Acts of the Apostles 2:37. Peter's sermon at Pentecost Acts of the Apostles 2:22-36 provides the answer. The Jewish people had cried out, “His blood be on us and on our children” Matthew 27:25. The Jews had crucified Jesus and the guilt of Messiah's death was on the people of Israel.

After hearing the gospel message spoken by Peter some of the Jews realized what they had done. Through repentance they acknowledged their sin before God and placed their faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of their sins. But what about "repent and be baptized" you say. Does this not prove that baptism is necessary for salvation? Well no it does not. Scripture has numerous texts that say forgiveness of sins is by faith alone John 1:12; John 3:16; John 3:36; John 6:47; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 2:8-9 to list just a few. Peter also gave us some of the clearest verses in this regard later in Acts of the Apostles 5:31; Acts of the Apostles 10:43; Acts of the Apostles 13:38-39; Acts of the Apostles 16:31; Acts of the Apostles 26:18. The weight of scripture points to faith being the only requirement for salvation. If you still insist that baptism is a requirement then how do you account for the experience of the gentiles in Acts of the Apostles 10:44-48.

Now what do we do with Mar 16:16. It is not the water of baptism that saves, but God’s grace given through faith in Christ. Jesus’ answer to the criminal on the cross shows us it is possible to be saved without being baptized Luke 23:43. Baptism was and is not a condition for salvation, but it is an important step of obedience for a believing disciple Acts of the Apostles 8:36-38; Acts of the Apostles 10:47-48. Baptism was not a step that a believer took lightly. Then as now it may cost you family, friends, and even your job.



The following quote presents a good picture of Baptism:

Baptism is like a wedding ring. We put on a wedding ring as a symbol of our commitment and devotion. In the same way baptism is a picture of devotion and commitment to Christ. A wedding ring reminds us and tells others that we belong to someone special. In the same way, baptism reminds us and others that we are devoted to Christ and belong to Him. by John Shore

 

That's condemning christianity prior to the 15th century, although it was not "absolutely necessary" God isn't bound by the sacraments... and quite the strawman to pit faith against baptism.

You didn't even respond to your own question here, you went elsewhere and pretty much said this can't say what it says.

Where exactly does the bible state this?

 

*1 Peter 3:14-22*

But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 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. Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

There were 8 people who were saved.
How were they saved? Were they saved by being sealed in the Ark or by being in the flood waters?

Who is our saving Ark? It is Jesus.
Like the Ark was sealed by God and saved the 8, so we were sealed into Christ and saved from the judgment of God.
Just as the Ark is immersed in the water and saved the 8 through the water, so Christ is immersed in the judgment of God and saved us through the judgment.

Unless you believe that the flood water saved Noah you cannot proclaim that water baptism is a means of regeneration. Peter tells you it doesn't. He shows you the connection he is making to the 8 being saved through the water and he points to Christ as our Savior through the judgment that should fall on us. It's right there for you. Whether you can accept this is another thing altogether.