“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:”
(1 Peter 3:21)
Some people misread or misunderstand this passage. They believe that God through Peter is saying that Baptism saves you. Let’s take a closer look at what is written though. “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, …by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” A figure or example using Baptism to show the world that we are leaving behind our old life for a “good conscience” (morality) “toward God,” in other words: baptism is a picture of Christ’s death and resurrection, in which we die to our old sinful life and are reborn into a new life of morality to honor God.
This is further illustrated as Peter writes about, starting in 1 Peter 3:18, concerning Christ’s death and then He was “quickened by the Spirit” (brought back to life). Peter provided another example, Noah, who left behind his old life when he boarded the ark with his family and “they were saved by water.” When the water subsided, Noah and his family began their new life in service to God. Baptism and these other examples Peter uses lead to only one conclusion, Baptism shows all those present that you are dead to your old life of sin and are now alive to morality and God’s will, striving to be as like Christ as possible for the rest of your life.
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, so we too should be baptized in like manner, but first we must be saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Baptism is the announcement to the world that you affiliate yourself with Christ as a Born Again disciple.