Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 10/1/2009

Question
The Southern Baptist Convention, on its website at http://www.sbc.net/knowjesus/baptism.asp says "Baptism does not "save" you, only your faith in Christ does that. "  I understand that this is a standard belief for all baptists.  Can you explain this in like of 1 Peter 3:21 "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledgee of a good conscience toward God."

Thank you,
Cody

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

If you have already read the SBC stands on baptism then you know that we believe salvation comes before baptism.  

Ro 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Now in 1 Peter 3:21, you must look at the previous verse in order to understand the context that Peter is speaking of v20"...when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 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,"

Peter is talking about Noah and the ark.  The water, while killing mankind, was symbolically saving Noah by holding the ark above it.  (Of course it was God not the water who was doing the saving).  

Peter then says "corresponding to that" or "understanding that," baptism saves you BUT NOT  the actual going under water or washing away the dirt and uncleaness of flesh and sin, but the APPEAL to GOD for a good conscience.  

Peter is saying exactly what Baptists are saying, it is not the water that saves you it is the "APPEAL" for Salvation to God that saves you.