Is baptism necessary for salvation according to 1 Peter 3:21?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

While 1 Peter 3:21 is part of an admittedly complicated passage, Peter uses the word “baptism” to refer to one’s expression of saving faith in Jesus. In the early church, it was virtually unheard of for anyone to be saved but not baptized (see Acts 8:36, 38). Indeed, perhaps the only recorded case of an exception was the thief on the cross in Luke 23:39–43. While that exception proves the testimony of Scripture that faith is all that is needed for salvation (Ephesians 2:8–9), the fact believers were assumed to be baptized believers shows how closely faith and baptism were related. In that way, they took Jesus’ final command to baptize seriously (Matthew 28:19–20; c.f., Acts 2:37–38). It was the assumption that all believers were baptized which allowed authors like Peter to talk about baptism as connected with salvation. Therefore, in 2 Peter 3:21 he could speak about baptism connected to salvation without meaning that one is saved because of baptism. Instead, he was saying that the baptized (those who have faith as shown by their baptism) will be saved.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament does not directly mention baptism, but it offers several themes and events that are relevant background to 1 Peter 3:21. Peter explicitly connects baptism to the flood: “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you…” (1 Peter 3:21). In the Old Testament, the floodwaters judged the world, but Noah and his family were saved through the waters in the ark (Genesis 6—9). Peter uses this as a typological foreshadowing—just as Noah was saved through water by faith and obedience, so too believers are saved by faith, and baptism becomes the outward symbol of that salvation.
• The Old Testament law includes various ceremonial washings to symbolize cleansing from impurity (Leviticus 15; Numbers 19). Though not baptism in the Christian sense, these washings laid the groundwork for understanding water as a symbol of purification—an idea that 1 Peter 3:21 builds upon but redefines through Christ.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• First Peter 3:21 says, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The question is about the statement, “baptism now saves you.” Some understand this to mean that baptism is required for salvation. However, the context of the passage shows that 1 Peter 3:21 does not teach that baptism is necessary for salvation. Rather, it uses water baptism as an illustration of salvation.
• In earlier verses, Peter brought up disobedient spirits (1 Peter 3:19–20), Noah, and the ark (1 Peter 3:20). While those passages are difficult to understand, in summary, they are talking about “the patience of God” in which God delayed His judgement of mankind until Noah completed the ark. It was with that ark that He saved mankind, by preserving Noah and his family through the flood waters (1 Peter 3:20).
• With that context of salvation in mind, then 1 Peter 3:21 gives a “corresponding” example of God’s patience and salvation. In it, the corresponding part is not the baptism, but the “appeal to God for a good conscience.” That is, Peter is using the word “baptism” as an expression of one’s faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. It is Christ who saves; baptism signifies that reality.
• Supporting that interpretation is 1 Peter 1:9, where he says that, though we do not see Jesus now, “the outcome of your faith [is] the salvation of your souls.” Notice that it is faith, not baptism, which brings salvation.
• This understanding is also consistent with the rest of Scripture. For example, Ephesians 2:8–9 notes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” John 1:12 says that “to all who did receive Him, who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God.” These and other passages clearly show that only faith in the resurrected Jesus as Lord is necessary for salvation.
• Part of untangling this difficult verse is considering how the early church understood baptism. For them, it was unheard of for someone to delay between being saved and being baptized. For example, when Philip taught an Ethiopian about the meaning of a scroll he had acquired, the Ethiopian believed and then immediately asked to be baptized (Acts 8:36).
• Similarly, in Acts 2, Peter preached the first sermon and 3,000 people were saved It says that “those who had received his word were baptized” (Acts 2:41). To “receive his word” referred to the preaching of Peter and their belief in the message. Shortly after that belief, they were baptized. Because of how closely the early church associated faith and baptism, there were rare exceptions to believers being unbaptized. If someone was a believer, then he or she was immediately baptized. Therefore, they could speak of baptism and faith almost interchangeably, because the two events were so closely associated with one another.
• While baptism was the norm, one major example is the thief on the cross in Luke 23. That example illustrates that only faith is necessary for salvation. When he said, “remember me when You come in Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42), he was expressing his faith in Jesus. Jesus’ reply was not, “you need to be baptized, first,” but “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Even though the thief was unable to be baptized, Jesus affirms that he was still saved because salvation is based on faith, alone.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Baptism does not save. Instead, it is an expression of one’s saving faith. However, though it does not save, it is also expected to be done by all believers. There may be times when wisdom leads to delaying baptism after one’s confession. However, that should be the exception.

When Jesus gave His final commands to the disciples, He told them to do two things after disciples were made: they were to be baptized and taught (Matthew 28:19–20). His intention was that all disciples (everyone who is saved) would also be baptized. He commanded that because it is an act which publicly shows a believer’s allegiance belongs to the Lord (Romans 6:3–4).

So, though baptism is closely associated with salvation, it comes after salvation. Salvation, itself, is only by faith and not works, not even the “work” of baptism (Ephesians 2:8–9). This means that of first importance is repentance for sin. Everyone is born an enemy of God and under the wrath of God. Short of faith in Christ, everyone is waiting for that final judgement to be unleashed. However, like with God delaying judgement until the ark was completed, God is currently delaying His final wrath. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone repents now. That expression of faith is what saves.

However, once a man or woman repents, the very next step that Jesus expects is the declaration of their new faith to the world by being baptized. Baptism is an act of joy as much as it is obedience to Christ. He, and He alone, brings salvation. Being baptized is the first action we can do to tell others about Jesus.

UNDERSTAND

• “Baptism...now saves you” in 1 Peter 3:21 refers not to water removing dirt but to an appeal to God for a good conscience—a heart-level faith response.
• Peter says that baptism saves "through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," showing that salvation comes by Christ's work, not the ritual itself.
• 1 Peter 3:21 uses baptism as a symbol corresponding to Noah’s salvation through water, pointing to faith expressed outwardly, not earned inwardly.

REFLECT

• If baptism is not what saves, what does your baptism say about your personal faith and trust in Jesus?
• Have you been baptized as a response to your faith in Christ, or has it been something you’ve put off—why?
• How does knowing that salvation is through faith alone, not rituals, give you peace or challenge your thinking?

ENGAGE

• How should we explain Peter speaking of baptism and salvation so closely in 1 Peter 3:21 without contradicting salvation by faith alone?
• How can we as believers uphold the importance of baptism without confusing it with the means of salvation?
• What role does baptism play in publicly affirming someone’s faith, and how can we encourage that in new believers?