Why does it seem some Chrisitians reject the scripture "baptisms now saves"?

Question

1 Peter 3:21...this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Answer 1

GREAT question!!

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that infants cannot be baptized - nowhere is it foridden.
Because of original sin, we are born without grace in our souls, so there is no way for us to have fellowship with God. Jesus became man to bring us into union with his Father. He said no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is first born of "water and the Spirit" (John 3:5)—this refers to baptism.

Through baptism we are born again, but this time on a spiritual level instead of a physical level. We are washed in the bath of rebirth (Titus 3:5). We are baptized into Christ’s death and therefore share in his Resurrection (Rom. 6:3–7).

Baptism cleanses us of sins and brings the Holy Spirit and his grace into our souls (Acts 2:38, 22:16). And the apostle Peter is perhaps the most blunt of all: "Baptism now saves you" (1 Pet. 3:21). Baptism is the gateway into the Church, in no way reserved for only adults.

"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19:14).

"Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God’" (Luke 18:15–16).

notice what Jesus said: "to such as these [referring to the infants and children who had been brought to him by their mothers] belongs the kingdom of heaven." The Lord did not require them to make a conscious decision. He says that they are precisely the kind of people who can come to him and receive the kingdom.

Paul notes that baptism has replaced circumcision (Col. 2:11–12). In that passage, he refers to baptism as "the circumcision of Christ" and "the circumcision made without hands." Of course, usually only infants were circumcised under the Old Law; circumcision of adults was rare, since there were few converts to Judaism. If Paul meant to exclude infants, he would not have chosen circumcision as a parallel for baptism.

This comparison between who could receive baptism and circumcision is an appropriate one. In the Old Testament, if a man wanted to become a Jew, he had to believe in the God of Israel and be circumcised. In the New Testament, if one wants to become a Christian, one must believe in God and Jesus and be baptized. In the Old Testament, those born into Jewish households could be circumcised in anticipation of the Jewish faith in which they would be raised. Thus in the New Testament, those born in Christian households can be baptized in anticipation of the Christian faith in which they will be raised. The pattern is the same: If one is an adult, one must have faith before receiving the rite of membership; if one is a child too young to have faith, one may be given the rite of membership in the knowledge that one will be raised in the faith. This is the basis of Paul’s reference to baptism as "the circumcision of Christ"—that is, the Christian equivalent of circumcision.

Answer 2

Because, taken in the context of the entire passage, we see that it is not baptism that saves us. We know, from, tons of other scriptures, that it is faith in Christ's atoning work that saves us because only that justifies us in God's sight, so that God no longer sees our sin, but the atoning blood of Christ that covers it.

A very good example of this principle in action can be seen by what happened with the thief on the cross beside Jesus. He confessed that he believed Christ was the Son of God and Jesus promised him that, because of that faith, he would be with Him that very day in paradise. The thief did not come down off the cross and be baptised, but he was given this assurance just the same.

Now, if we take this passage in context we see that baptism is, none-the-less, an important sacrament because of its symbolism. We start in verse 20 and we see that Noah's experience is compared to baptism: he passed through the water and was saved by the grace of God, by means of the ark he was told by God to build. In the same way, we are saved by being in Christ; the comparison is made in verse 21.

In verse 21, it specifically tells us what kind of baptism is meant: "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh" that water accoplishes, but "the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (v 22) who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God."

So it is because we are baptised into Christ through our justification and the fact that He now sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession on our behalf as our High Priest, just as it says numerous times in the book of Hebrews.

Answer 3

You partly answer your own question - "not the removal of the dirt of the body", which refers to the process of immersion in water; "but the answer of a good conscience towards God", which speaks of the spiritual work of regeneration, the "washing of water with the word" (Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5); that is, being born again by faith.

No ceremony can save you.
The Old Covenant ceremony of circumcision could not save a Jew.
Only the faith of Abraham can save both Jew and Gentile.
Paul makes 3 statements regarding this:
"Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God (is what matters)." I Corinthians 7:19

"For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision mean anything, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5:6)

and finally:
"For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision; but a new creation."
(Galatians 6:15)

Answer 4

Baptism, like any validating behavior, is "essential to salvation" only in the sense that if you don't want to go through with it, and there is no barrier to understanding, then it is clear that you do not possess salvation. Thought and action are expected, under the Semitic Totality paradigm, to correspond. The conversion and the baptism are regarded as one process, not because the latter is required for salvation, but because it is expected in light of salvation. (Hence it is off the mark to make much of that Peter commanded the baptism, and thereby conclude that baptism is a "necessity" rather than an inevitable result. A command is often needed simply because the person being commanded has no idea what they should do next (as would have been the case with the Pentecost converts), having no knowledge of what the process is; and it could hardly be phrased in any less demanding language.)

Answer 5

I am a Christian Theologian and Evangelist for over 30 years to date and no mere physical water baptism can ever save anyone at any age !

Our Living Master and Sovereign Savior Jesus Christ is the True Light and the True Water of Life -- He is freely out-poured now and forevermore upon all human flesh !

He the Spirit of Truth here is just like Jesus !; but you see no physical body

Water sprinkling or dunking is just a social custom of fellowship in some churches -- we Jesusonians do not ever water baptize; we teach Jesus' Presence as Fire Baptism.

When you are fired by your human boss, you are temporarily unemployed. When you are Fired by JESUS, You are Eternally Employed in His Mission of Truth Universally !

Peace and progress,
Brother Dave, a Jesusonian Christian
http://www.PureChristians.org/
large Good News website

Answer 6

Jesus said, no one cometh unto the Father except by me,,,baptism does not save you,,only the blood of Jesus Christ,,,,have you noticed the word "SYMBOLIZES"baptism in what you wrote!!!if baptism could get you to heaven, WHY DID JESUS DIE ON THE CROSS ?

Answer 7

Did not Jesus tell John to baptize him that all the scriptures be fufilled. Baptism is a outward deed to show that something has been one on the inside. I see how you so call people get on here & try to trick a young Christian, But I am not a Novice in the Lord. I have been serving God for over 37 yr. You may can fool some, But not all.

Answer 8

The symbolic reaching of Christ blood which cleanses away our sins is why we are buried with him through baptism into his death that like as Christ rose up from the dead even so we also should rise and walk in newness of life. Romans 6:1-4.
He that believeth AND is BAPTIZED shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16:16

Answer 9

It's very confusing that they ignore some Bible verses and the unanimous testimony of the Church fathers.

Answer 10

The blood of Christ washes away sin. (Revelation 1:5)

This blood was shed and offered for our sins when Christ died upon the Cross. It is through this blood that we can be saved. (Romans 5:8-10)

In your Bible, probably on the same page, it tells you how to contact this saving blood. We cannot wash in the blood if we do not contact it!

Since the blood was shed at Christ's death, we must contact His death to contact the blood. Romans 6:3-5 tells us at baptism we are "baptized into His death"! (See Colossians 2:12 also.) That is when we contact the blood.

Romans 6 also teaches that we are "baptized into Christ". We cannot be saved outside of Christ!

Romans 6:4 continues to teach that at baptism, we "rise to walk in newness of life"! At a birth there is new life. We cannot be saved if we are not "born again" into this new life in Christ!

That is why Saul (Paul) was told "be baptized and wash away your sins"! (Acts 22:16) We cannot be saved if our sins remain!

Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved". (Mark 16:16)

Some say that you believe, are saved, and then you shall be baptized. This is not the same thing Jesus said. It is not in the same order!

What would Jesus have said if He had meant, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved"?

I believe He said what he meant and meant what he said! I believe Jesus! "He that believes not shall be condemned!" (Mark 16:16)

Jesus commanded baptism! "And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him!" (Hebrews 5:9) We cannot be saved if we do not submit to the authority of Christ in obedience!

Peter said, "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 3:21)

What would Peter have said if he had meant "baptism now saves you"?

Baptism is "for the remission of sins", "unto the remission of sins", or "so that your sins will be forgiven"! (Acts 2:38, depending on which version you read)

Baptism; along with faith, confession, and repentance; is part of the plan of salvation that God established for us to follow!

Every example of conversion in the book of Acts specifically mentions baptism! Every one of these converts were baptized immediately. None of these converts either ate, drank, slept or continued a journey until they were baptized!

Not every example of a conversion specifically mentions confession, repentance, mercy, love, the blood of Christ, or grace. These are all necessary for salvation and they can be inferred, but they are not specifically mentioned every time, but Baptism is!

After Jesus commanded baptism, where is a biblical example of someone being saved without baptism? There is not one!

There is no power in the water! The power is in Christ and obeying him -- doing what he said to do to contact his death and saving blood! This is not a work of our own design, but it is following the commandment of Christ!

Jesus is "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9)

We will be judged based on what they we able to do now, how we use that opportunity, and all of the opportunities we have passed up or taken advantage of in our life!

There is the opportunity to be baptized today!

If we are not baptized for the remission of our sins immediately, then it is only because we refuse to do so! If we do not obey Christ, it is because we simply don't want to do so.

If you are not baptized immediately, then you are putting something else in your life before following Christ. It's like telling Jesus, "I will follow you, but not now!" Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness!

Can you expect to be saved while you refuse to obey Christ? Is Jesus "Lord of your life" if you have not done as He instructs without delay? Please open your Bible and read Hebrews 5:9 for the answer!

Jesus said, ""Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Some will point to the thief on the cross.

He had direct contact with Christ at His death. We are not in that position. It is through baptism that we contact Christ's death!

Also, the thief died BEFORE Christ rose from the dead and commanded the baptism of the great commission! (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16) The thief could not have obeyed a command that was not yet issued during his life.

Finally, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ that baptism now represents had not yet occurred at that time. The thief could not have therefore been baptized into Christ's death and in the likeness of his resurrection, been brought up out of the water, rising to walk in newness of life! (Romans 6:3-13)

Again, the thief had direct contact with Christ at his death and was able to make his appeal directly to Christ. We are not in that position. We make this appeal through baptism!

"Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you -- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"!
(1 Peter 3:21, NASB)

Why do some not believe this? "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires." (2 Timothy 4:3) They don't believe it because they don't want to.