A Quick Look at Christian Baptism from 1 Peter 3:21

1 Peter 3:21 is one of my favorite verses in the New Testament to use when teaching others about baptism. It states, “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.”

First, consider the picture of baptism. “Baptism” is something that “corresponds to this,” “this” referring to “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” (1 Peter 3:20). The correspondence seems to involve water, judgment, and protection. As Noah and his family were brought safely by the ark through the waters of judgment, so also the waters of baptism picture how Christ saves us from the judgment of death. Being immersed and coming back up from the water pictures our union with Christ in His death and life. He took our judgment upon in Himself, and in Him, we have died to sin and have eternal life (cf. Romans 6:1–4; Colossians 2:12).

Second, consider the process of baptism. By process, I refer to the method of baptism—immersion. In 1 Peter 3:21, baptism enables “the removal of dirt from the body,” something that involves enough water for a bath. As an example of how much water is involved, Philip and the Ethiopian “both went down into the water” where an immersion could take place (Acts 8:38). Immersion is a proper understanding of the word baptism, and this process best pictures our union with Christ in His death and resurrection.

Third, consider the pledge in baptism. “Baptism… now saves you,” but in what way? It is “not as a removal of dirt from the body.” Water can cleanse the body but not the soul. “Baptism… now saves you” in this sense—it “saves… as an appeal to God for a good conscience.” In other words, when someone is baptized, there is an appeal or a pledge made to God that what is being pictured in baptism is true of the one being baptized—this one, by faith, has died to sin and been raised to walk in newness of life. The conscience behind this pledge is good and clean, cleansed by the blood of Christ, the One in whom we believe (cf. Hebrews 9:14; 10:22).

Fourth and finally, consider the power of the resurrection. The believer’s appeal is “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The transforming power in salvation that enables this appeal is the same power that raised our Lord from the dead (cf. Ephesians 1:18–20). When the power of the resurrection is alive an active in a believer, it is seen through the believer’s appeal to God for a good conscience at the time of his baptism.

1 Peter 3:21 teaches or touches upon many truths related to baptism. We see something of the picture, process, and pledge in baptism, as well as the resurrection power behind’s the believer’s appeal. A helpful verse, indeed!

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David Huffstutler is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Rockford, IL. He blogs here, where this article first appeared. It is republished here by permission.