1 Peter 3:21 | Baptism Saves?

Upon closer examination, this verse does not prove that the ceremony of baptism makes a person right before God.

Revealed Apologetics :: Dangers of the “Church of Christ” Cult

[appointedaday]

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

[Britton]

if you replace baptism with the word immersion it makes sense. and that is the context of the word baptizo. also they were not immersed in water they were immersed in the ark which was a representation of God.

[robertnieten]

Having a good conscience is one free from the " consciousness of sin", ( Heb 6:2).
The writer of Hebrews wrote that under the old covenant, the blood of bulls and goats was ineffective in dealing with consiousness of sins which is guilt ( Heb 6:2) Thus, the Spirit of God would only dwell in the Holy Of Holies temorarily requiring the rites to be repeated each year.
Under the new covenant, as we pass through the water of baptism, and because of the shed blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit circumcises our conscience, removing the guilt from past sins, and restoring or conscience to that if an innocent child.
This is the " washing of regeneration" of Titus 3:5. The word " regeneration" defined means, " to return something to its original state". The original state of our conscience is that of a childs' inno ent of the conscequence of wilful sin.
This is remission of sin.
Now, the Holy Spirit can enter the " temple" of our bodies and dwell on a permanent basis.

[anonymous-rwtd]

Jeremiah at around 1:50 "I called in a live talk show to a *church of Christ* preacher, and we spent an hour talking about these 2 verses"

I just want to jump in here and say if there were NOT people already aware --- But it is not just the coC that see this verse differently from you two! There are QUITE A FEW Branches/denominations that see it differently in fact!

for just *one* example, there is a prominent Lutheran Channel (that I am sure both these creators are aware of!) that spends a video (or 2 or 3 ;) on this verse as well.... And they ironically stress context as well! But they also come to a different conclusion!

Its certainly not just the coC, here!! Just making sure people are aware!

Let me know if you would like more resources named that believe differently with context to this verse-- though, I feel like that is already known!

[jackcrow]

Where can I find the 1 hour discussion that was mentioned?

[catmanbluz]

The thief on the cross wasn't baptized

[SpotterVideo]

Which Baptism Saves?

Old Covenant Baptism vs. New Covenant Baptism (water vs. Spirit)

Water baptism was a part of the Old Covenant system of ritual washing. The Old Covenant priests had to wash before beginning their service in the temple. (Ex. 30:17-30) When Christ was water baptized by His cousin John in the Jordan River, He was under the Old Covenant system. He also only ate certain foods, and wore certain clothes, as prescribed by the 613 Old Covenant laws. Christ was water baptized by John and then the Holy Spirit came from heaven. The order is reversed in the New Covenant. A person receives the Holy Spirit upon conversion, and then believers often declare their conversion to their friends and family through a water baptism ceremony. Which baptism makes you a member of Christ’s Church?

The New Covenant conversion process is described below. (Born-again)

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

(A person must “hear” the Gospel, and “believe” the Gospel, and will then be “sealed” with the Holy Spirit.)

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(See Jer. 31:34 for the New Covenant promise, and 1 John 2:27 for the fulfillment)



Which baptism is a part of the salvation process, based on what the Bible says?
What did Peter say below?

Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Acts 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.


Based on Luke 3:16, and John 1:33, and Acts 11:15-16, the most important thing about the word "baptize" in the New Testament has nothing to do with water. The Holy Spirit is the master teacher promised to New Covenant believers in Jeremiah 31:34, and John 14:26, and is found fulfilled in Ephesians 1:13, and 1 John 2:27. Unfortunately, many modern Christians see water when they read the word "baptize" in the text.

Based on the above, what is the one baptism of our faith found in the passage below? How many times is the word "Spirit" found in the passage, and how many times is the word "water" found in the passage?

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (See 1 Cor. 12:13)

“baptize” KJV

Mat_3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mar_1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Water or Holy Spirit?, See Eph. 1-13.)

Luk_3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Joh_1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

Joh_1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

1Co_1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (See Eph. 4:1-5)

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (Old Covenant ----> New Covenant)


How many people have been saved by the Old Covenant water baptism of John the Baptist?

Who did John the Baptist say is the greatest Baptist that ever lived in Luke 3:16? What kind of New Covenant baptism comes from Christ?
Hebrews 9:10 Old Covenant vs. New Covenant

(CSB) They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.

(ESV) but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

(ESV+) but deal only with R5food and drink and R6various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

(Geneva) Which only stood in meates and drinkes, and diuers washings, and carnal rites, which were inioyned, vntill the time of reformation.

(GW) These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things.

(KJV) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

(KJV+) Which stood onlyG3440 inG1909 meatsG1033 andG2532 drinks, G4188 andG2532 diversG1313 washings, G909 andG2532 carnalG4561 ordinances, G1345 imposedG1945 on them untilG3360 the timeG2540 of reformation.G1357

(NKJV) concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

(NLT) For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.

(YLT) only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances—till the time of reformation imposed upon them .

[swordmasterpublications]

2:52 You start off by saying you are going to use the KJV to "help them out" and then don't actually use the KJV. Instead, you go to the ESV which doesn't correctly translated the word διά. διά is properly translated as "by" or "through the agency of" or "by means of". In other words, the water saved them. But because you presuppose your systematic, you impose it on the text thinking that it is the water that Noah and his family were being save from. That doesn't work in the original story in Genesis and it doesn't work in the comparison that Peter is making here. Naoh and his family were saved from the wickedness of the world, i.e. sin, by the water which destroyed the sin. The antitype of this is baptism, which does also now save us. Without the water saving Noah, the whole type/antitype relationship here falls apart.