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I said this: The same Peter said: “..were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also SAVE us....”. 1Peter 3:20,21.

You (and metmom, in similar words) said this: **There you go again by leaving off part of the passage. Let’s look at what it says actually saves.**

Well, you took the bait. BECAUSE.....y’all like to quote Acts 16:31, and NOT quote verse 32 and 33. You’ve also pointed out the importance of the NAME, as I knew you would (this ain’t my first rodeo). So, let’s go to Acts 16:

“And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and his straightway.” vs 32,33

Y’all also don’t like to quote Acts 19, where the ‘certain disciples’ had only been baptized unto John the baptist’s baptism unto repentance (vss 3,4):

vs 5 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”. (WHAT? not in the names ‘Father, Son, and Holy Ghost’?)

That wasn’t Holy Ghost baptism, BECAUSE..., that happened NEXT:

vs 6 “And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them”...”.

But hey, let’s back on up to Acts chapter 8:

The Samaritans: “But when thy believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ”..(this is where y’all stop)..”they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip..”. vss 12,13

Looks like they needed to believe AND be baptized (Mk 16:16).

What name were they baptized in.......oh yeah...here it is:

They hadn’t received the Holy Ghost yet...”(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)” vs 16.

Looks like they needed to believe and be baptized.

The Ethiopian eunuch: “Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is WATER: what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And Philip baptized him.

He believed and was baptized. And these water baptisms were done pronto, like right now.

My insertion: (isn’t gonna think that baptism is important) doesn’t sit well with you? Well, you’ve already made water baptism out to be unessential to some degree or another, when Jesus Christ, Peter, Paul, and Philip, all commanded it. I’ve pointed out how they ordered it done NOW.

**1 Peter 3:21 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:**

Good conscience toward God, because of obedience to him, and faith that he blots out your sins when you are buried ‘with him in baptism’. (’him’ being Jesus Christ, who did indeed rise from the dead).

**Ananias told Paul, “And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”. Acts 22:16

**What did he say washed away the sins in that passage?**

Looks like Acts 2:38 in action to me: Being baptized while invoking the name of Jesus, washes away the sins. Without the name of Jesus, baptism is useless.

Paul had met the Lord on the way to Damascus. He KNEW (believed) the Lord at that point, but he wasn’t saved yet; he still had his sins, until he obeyed Ananias’ command.

**No one has said it was unimportant.**

If water baptism is still important to you, do you treat it with the same urgency as the apostles? Do you baptise in the name of Jesus, as they did?

**It is not what saves.**

It’s part of the apostles doctrine, given to them by the Lord. Man-made tradition has made it kinda important, but not very important.

To me, and those like minded, it’s obvious that the Lord meant REAL water, and Spirit was necessary to be born again. For the apostles preached and performed it just that way. Acts 2:38; it’s how we become one with Him; His Blood, His Spirit, His righteousness.

Point to ponder:
You folks would possibly condemn a person that chose not to walk a mile to hear someone preach the Gospel, and therefore stay lost. So, you would be placing requirement on that mile long walk in order to be saved.

Water baptism was part of the old law and was replaced on the day of Pentecost:

Acts 19:1-6

(1) While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples

(2) and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

(3) So Paul asked them, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.

(4) Paul said, “John’s baptism was [note the past tense] a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

(5) On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

(6) When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Even John discusses the new baptism that was to come:

Luke 3:16

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

And here’s Peter correcting his earlier mindset that water was required for baptism:

Act 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.

Water Baptism is important, but it does not give new life.

Salvation has two aspects - justification and sanctification.

Water baptism is not involved in justification or being born again. It is the SPIRIT who gives life.

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

It is baptism in the Spirit - the Baptism of Jesus - that unites us with Christ and gives life.

However, sanctification - separating from the evil world around us, to paraphrase Peter - is also a crucial part of salvation. It is here where water baptism plays an important role - a ritual cleansing showing we are no longer part of the world, but citizens of another. It was also a public sign of dedication to service, such as the baptism of Jesus.

Water baptism is important, but it isn’t what unites us with Jesus. We are placed in Christ when He baptizes us in the Holy Spirit. We are set aside for God’s service when we are baptized in water, that we might “Be saved from this perverse generation!”