…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.
1 Peter 3:20-21
Last week’s article discussed the concept of Christ, through the Spirit-inspired preacher Noah, preaching to the disobedient “when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared,” before they perished in the flood and their spirits went to prison in Hades (1 Pet. 3:19-20a; cf. 1:10-11; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2:5; Lk. 16:19-31). Peter now reminds his readers that it was within the ark that “a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water” (v. 20b). This of course refers to Noah, his wife, and his three sons and their wives (Gen. 7:7). They were indeed “brought safely through water,” emerging safely from the ark having survived the flood which destroyed the rest of mankind (Gen. 7:17-23; 8:15-18; 2 Pet. 2:5).
Peter then writes, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you…” (v. 21a), correlating water baptism (Acts 8:36-39; 10:47-48) and the salvation it brings (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16) with how God brought Noah and his family “safely through water” (v. 20b). This correlation, described as “corresponding to this/that” in the ESV and NASB, is labeled in other translations as “an antitype” (NKJV), “the like figure whereunto” (KJV), and “after a true likeness” (ASV). These depictions are worded in these ways because of the New Testament teaching that describes how certain physical people, things, and events which one reads about in the Old Testament spiritually foreshadow certain people, things, and concepts within the New Testament. For example, the Old Testament priests who offered sacrifices foreshadow Christ as our High Priest and the sacrifice He offered on the cross (Heb. 8:1-5; 9:18-28). The Sabbath foreshadows the eternal rest waiting for us in heaven (Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 4:1-11). The Israelites foreshadow Christians, God’s chosen people in the New Testament (Rom. 2:28-29; James 1:1-2a; Gal. 3:29; 6:16). The physical circumcision that signified that a covenant existed between God and Israel foreshadows the spiritual circumcision manifested in baptism which is the sign of a covenant between God and Christians (Rom. 2:28-29; Col. 2:11-12). Concerning baptism, Peter is basically saying that God bringing Noah and his family safely through the waters of the flood foreshadows how water baptism brings us to salvation (v. 21a). Even though many deny that baptism is necessary for salvation, the apostle’s clear connection between baptism and salvation still stands. “Baptism…now saves you…”
Peter goes on to clarify that the power that brings us salvation through baptism is not found in the water itself and any cleansing of our physical bodies it may bring (“not as a removal of dirt from the body” – v. 21b). Rather, the salvation brought to us in baptism is “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (v. 21d; cf. 1:3; Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:17). Without that wonderful event, baptism – as well as faith, repentance, godly living, etc. – would be of no benefit to us. Therefore, the claim that teaching that baptism is necessary for salvation is basically teaching “salvation by works” and is thus in violation of Ephesians 2:8-9 is false. God inspired Peter to acknowledge baptism’s necessary role in our salvation even while giving complete credit to Jesus and His resurrection, and thus teaches us to do the same.
Through the “baptism (which)…now saves you” (v. 21a), we also “appeal to God for a good conscience” (v. 21c). This brings to mind Peter and Paul’s earlier statements that “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13), as well as Ananias sharing the gospel with Paul by correlating baptism with both “wash(ing) away your sins” and “calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). We therefore see that by being baptized, we ask God to give us the “good conscience” that can only truly come from complete forgiveness of sins…and, praise Him and His grace, our God grants our appeal.
“Baptism…now saves you…”
— Jon
Pre-Denominational Christianity 
How refreshing to see this perspective today! I feel like I only ever see people speaking against baptism being part of salvation, saying it’s a work and not necessary. I’ve heard people claim that “if someone on a deserted island read the Bible with no outside commentary, they’d never get from it that baptism was necessary.” And I’m like…what Bible are you reading?? Lol. Thanks for sharing this!
You’re welcome! Thanks for your kind feedback, and thanks for reading!
“…what Bible are you reading??” The one that speaks of circumcision the same way it speaks of baptism. In other words, by your logic, circumcision is still required, too.
The circumcision Paul correlates with baptism in Colossians 2:11-12 is described as “a circumcision made without hands.” Thus, it is a spiritual circumcision, not the physical one required of the Jews in the Law of Moses.
I wrote about this in greater detail if you’re interested: https://predenominationalchristianity.com/2012/10/12/baptism-the-christians-circumcision/
Thanks for reading and contributing to the discussion, Mike.
Jon, thanks for the response. I read the post to which you linked. I share your view that circumcision was spiritualized with the coming of the church; I’m just adding the point that baptism was likewise spiritualized with the coming of the kingdom of God (which occurred just when Jesus and His apostles said it would – in their generation).
You are certainly correct that the kingdom would come in their generation (Mk. 9:1). Concerning the notion that baptism is spiritualized, here are a few things I’d like for you to consider.
Before Pentecost in Acts 2 when the apostles received the Holy Spirit, the kingdom is always spoken of as coming soon (e.g., Matt. 4:17; Acts 1:6-8; etc). After Acts 2, the kingdom is spoken of as presently existing with Christians being its citizens (e.g., Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:12; Heb. 12:28).
In Acts 2 and following (when the kingdom is described as presently existing), if baptism is spiritualized in nature only, then we would not read of people literally being baptized in water. However, we do read of people being baptized in water (Acts 8:36-38; 10:47).
We also read of baptism being correlated with washing away sins; in like manner, we read of God saving us “by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 22:16; Tit. 3:5). “Washing” is inherently associated with water. With that in mind, notice that the church is sanctified and cleansed “by the washing of water with the word” (Eph. 5:26). These are clear references to water baptism.
Peter acknowledges this in the above verse which the article discusses, 1 Peter 3:21. He correlates baptism with how Noah and his family were saved by being brought through the waters of the flood, and he also correlates baptism with water by acknowledging that some might mistakenly think it saves by removing dirt from the body. He would not speak of removing dirt from the body if baptism was solely spiritual in nature.
All of this is associated with Christ’s statement that one must be born again “of water and the Spirit” in order to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5), and Peter’s command and promise that one must “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
So there is a spiritual component to baptism, yes…but baptism is still a literal immersion in water.
Jon, you and I seem to agree on two important points: 1) that Jesus and the apostles predicted that the kingdom of God would come in their generation (i.e., the 1st century), and 2) that the kingdom of God did indeed come in that time frame. It’s in getting more specific about the dating that we seem to disagree. You seem to think that the kingdom of God came in Acts 2 and I think it came later – after the NT texts were written but before the expiration of that generation (which, practically speaking, means between 70 and 100 AD). Have I stated your position, and its difference from mine, correctly?
I would only add that we also disagree about the baptism of 1 Peter 3:21 (and what is commanded in the NT as a whole in connection with salvation and forgiveness of sins) being water baptism. For the reasons stated above in the article and in the discussion between us, water baptism is necessary for salvation. While there are spiritual connotations to it, it is not solely spiritual in nature.
Concerning the date of the kingdom’s arrival, the use of present and past tense verbs in relation to the kingdom within the NT show that it came before 70 AD. For example:
Col. 1:13 – “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” “Has delivered” and “transferred” show past tense, not future tense pointing towards 70 AD and beyond.
Rom. 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” “Is,” not “will be.”
Col. 4:10-11 – Paul lists 3 men who he cites as being “among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God.” If the kingdom did not come until after Paul’s death, this statement makes no sense.
1 Thess. 2:12 – “God…calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” “Calls,” not “will call” at some point in the near future.
2 Thess. 1:5 – “that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.” These Christians were not suffering for something that had yet to arrive.
Heb. 12:28 – “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom…” – If the kingdom was yet to come, he would have told them to be grateful because they would receive a kingdom in the future.
Revelation 1:6, 9 – John tells the 7 churches of Asia that God has “made us a kingdom” and calls himself their “brother and partner in…the kingdom…” He speaks of the kingdom as if it has already arrived.
Just something to consider.
Jon, I take your point that we also disagree on baptism. I only omitted it because 1) it seemed so obvious and, 2) I was looking to see if we could build a bridge from our point of agreement to our points of disagreement. That required fine-tuning our positions on the coming of the Lord (coming of the kingdom, coming of the day of the Lord, the second coming of Christ, etc.). Again, leaving aside for the moment the issue of baptism, let me address more specifically your position that Acts 2 exhaustively fulfilled the prophecies of the coming of the kingdom of God.
You are right that the church was a kingdom of sorts – but it was merely a first fruits of, a down payment on, the kingdom of God to come. Jesus made this clear in the parable He told in Luke 19:11-27 – the man in that parable receives a kingdom but then returns for a greater one. Thus, Acts 2 inaugurated the kingdom of the church – spiritual Israel – but the fulness would come later, which would make Jesus king not just of the church, but of ALL the nations. This is why the epistles all speak of the kingdom (the return of the Lord, the day of the Lord, etc.) to come. You have left these many references to the future out of your list above. For example, you quote Rev 1:6, 9, which, if taken out of context, might support your contention. But that the day of the Lord had not yet come is clear from a fuller list of relevant quotations from Revelation. (I could do this with all the epistles from which you quoted, but won’t take up unnecessary space on your website.)
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Rev 22:6 And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.
Rev 22:7 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Rev 22:10 And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
Rev 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Hi Mike,
Within the parable of the minas, there is no indication that the nobleman received a kingdom only to return for a greater kingdom. He “went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return” (v. 12), and verse 15 says, “When he returned, having received the kingdom…” i.e., clearly the kingdom he had received before returning.
With this in mind, Christ at his ascension, 10 days before Pentecost in Acts 2, was given the kingdom when he sat down at God’s right hand (Mk. 16:20; Dan. 7:13-14), and it was at that time that “all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him” (Dan. 7:14). It was also right before his ascension that he said that he had been given (past tense) “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18).
This is why Paul, prior to AD 70, called him in the present tense “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15). It is also why Paul, prior to AD 70, said that the specific reason he and his fellow apostles had received grace and apostleship was “to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations” (Rom. 1:5). Thus, your notion of an inauguration or down payment of sorts concerning the kingdom in Acts 2 followed by Christ becoming ruler of all the nations at a later time is mistaken.
Concerning Revelation and the continual mentions that “the time is near” and “the things which must soon take place,” etc., the visions throughout Revelation figuratively describe trials and persecutions from enemies of the cross which faithful Christians would face and overcome all throughout the Christian age up to the day of judgment. Thus, the promises that these visions “must soon take place” and “the time is near” mean that these burdens would begin to happen — rather than start and then end — soon after John wrote Revelation.
Ultimately, getting back to the point of this article which is baptism, the evidence found in the entirety of the Scriptural data concerning NT baptism shows that it is water baptism and it is required for salvation and forgiveness of sins. I encourage you to consider that with an open heart and mind and with an open Bible. I appreciate your feedback, you taking the time to converse with me, and especially you taking the time to read my blog. It is my hope that you continue to do so. Thank you for the great discussion.