1 Peter 3:21

1 Peter 3:21 ‘And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you---not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for. good conscience---through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,'

‘Corresponding to that' -‘Corresponding'-‘resembling another, its counter part' (Thayer p. 51); ANTITUPOS-lit.,. striking back, copy, corresponding type (Vine pp. 95-96). ‘corresponding to something that has gone before. “means baptism, which is. fulfillment (of the type) now saves you, i.e. the saving of Noah from the flood is. foreshadowing of baptism, i.e. our salvation' (Arndt p. 76) ‘Baptism is presented as corresponding to (pre-figured by) the deliverance of Noah's family by water.' (Robertson p. 119). ‘Literally, “antitupos” means an impression corresponding to the “tupos”. The die, mold, or pattern makes an impression, which is the “antitupos”…Hence, the antitype is that which is left after something has been impressed by the model or mold.' (Hamilton p. 191)

Point to Note: How can anyone argue that baptism is non-essential? Water baptism in the New Testament is the original pattern, which various Old Testament practices and events foreshadowed, i.e the flood, crossing the Red Sea (1 Corinthians 10:1); and the laver which the priests washed in prior to serving in the tabernacle (Exodus 2:18; Titus 3:5). In addition see the following passages (Mark 16:15; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Ephesians 4:5 ‘one baptism'-one unimportant and optional baptism???

‘baptism' -Right here some try to argue that the baptism under consideration is Holy Spirit baptism: Points to Note: 1. But the context is ‘water'. Why would God parallel Holy Spirit baptism with an event which involved more water than any other event in human history? Is God trying to confuse us? 2. The salvation in the context is connected with water (1 Peter 3:20 ‘brought safely through water.') 3. The baptism associated with salvation is water baptism (Acts 8:36). 4. Holy Spirit baptism doesn't save. person (Acts 10:44).

‘now saves you' -from what? Obviously from the eternal consequences of your sins (Acts 2:38). Man says that baptism has nothing to do with salvation. Why then did Jesus and the Apostles constantly link baptism with salvation, and constantly placed baptism prior to salvation? (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). Baptism doesn't save us from hardship, suffering, persecution or trials.

Consider the parallels: 1. The waters of the flood delivered Noah from. corrupt society to. new world----water baptism brings one into. state of newness of life (Romans 6:3). 2. Water delivered Noah from. condemned world---baptism delivers us from condemnation (Mark 16:16). 3. The flood separated the saved from the lost---baptism is the line between lost and saved. 4. The flood wasn't the Savior, but the instrument or means of deliverance---water baptism isn't the Savior, rather it is the last condition prior to salvation.

Other things are connected with salvation, and people don't consider them to be non-essential (i.e. faith, Mark 16:16; Acts 2:21; Jesus Christ, Acts 4:12; grace, Acts 15:11; the blood of Christ, Romans 5:9; confessing Christ, Romans 10:9; the gospel message, 1 Corinthians 15:2; the love of the truth, (2 Thessalonians 2:10). ‘Most interpreters would agree that whatever element or action is specified in the above passages as necessary for being “saved” should not be omitted from the teaching of salvation. To omit any item that “saves” us would be to leave out hope, belief, grace, the blood of Christ, confessing Christ, and Jesus Himself! When therefore the Scriptures also tell us baptism “now saves you”, one is hard pressed to shrug it off as “nonessential” to salvation.' (Oberst pp. 183-184)

‘not the removal of dirt from the flesh' -‘dirt'-filth, ‘removing of dirt from the body' (Arndt p. 738).

Points to Note: 1. This separates water baptism from the Jewish ceremonial washings. Baptism doesn't deal with mere external ceremonial defilement. It is not. ritual cleansing bath. 2. And this also reveals that there isn't something magical in the water. Any sort of water can be used for baptism. Carefully note that we never find the apostles first blessing the water in which people were to be baptized.. body or pool of water by the side of road will work just fine (Acts 8:36). 3. Another angle on the passage, proposed by some is to view ‘dirt/filth of the flesh' as sin. That Peter is saying, ‘baptism is not just. removal of sin, but also….' I'm still thinking about that one.

‘but an appeal to God for. good conscience' -‘Appeal'-‘earnest seeking, i.e.. craving, an intense desire, long for something' (Thayer p. 230); ‘primarily. question or inquiry, denotes. demand or appeal' (Vine p. 268); ‘request, appeal, an appeal to God for. clear conscience' (Arndt p. 285). ‘the craving for. conscience right with God' (Gspd); ‘it means the ability to face God with. clear conscience' (Phi). ‘ is another way of saying “a request for forgiveness of sins and. new heart”. When God gives. sinner. clear conscience, that person has the assurance that every sin has been forgiven…(Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22).' (Grudem p.163)

Points to Note: 1. Obviously, baptism only applies to those who are old enough to personally make an appeal to God for. clear conscience! 2. Since baptism is always placed prior to forgiveness (Acts 2:38), we must reject any idea that. person can have. clear conscience prior to baptism. Hence the statement, ‘an appeal to God for. good conscience', cannot be interpreted as meaning ‘an appeal to God made out of. good conscience'. 3. The person who wants. clear conscience realizes that baptism is the final step between them and such. condition. In addition, in being baptism one also pledges to live before God in. good conscience, i.e. to obediently conform to His laws.

‘through the resurrection of Jesus Christ' -Which gives meaning to baptism. For if Jesus wasn't raised, then neither are we raised to newness of life following baptism (Romans 6:3). We can have confidence in being baptized! If God raised up Jesus, then certainly He will cleanse us from our sins when we submit to Him in the waters of baptism (Colossians 2:12).