I'm going to preface this whole post with Hebrews 11:6. Everything we do in life, if it does not include faith, is absolutely pointless. Nothing done apart from faith pleases God, nothing. Jesus even highlights this
Romans 6:3-4 + Colossians 2:11-12 both say we die to our old sin nature, are buried with Jesus, and rise to new life in baptism. Well Colossians takes an extra step and describes our dying to sin as Jesus cutting away the "body of flesh", but this is done in baptism. So from these two passages, we see how baptism effects the spiritual life of a convert. The power of sin is destroyed (Romans 6:1-7) and they are united with Christ (Galatians 3:25-27) to walk in new life, the new birth. So when Paul writes things like 2 Corinthians 5:17, "If anyone is IN CHRIST, they are a new creation..." He is making an indirect reference to a person's baptism, that when done IN FAITH actually has effect and power.
I would say that the Baptism of Moses (1 Corinthians 10:1-2) and the Baptism of Noah (1 Peter 3:20) are obviously literal events that happened, but also types for us in the new covenant. Shadows of what would be in the future. (Romans 15:4) Just as the children of Israel were baptized into Moses through the sea, so too do new believers get baptized into Christ by "the washing of pure water" (Ephesians 5:26, Hebrews 10:22) Just as the waters of Noah, destroyed sin and evil so that the righteous would live, so too does the baptismal water end the power of sin and evil in the life of a believer so they might live to righteousness in the Spirit (Romans 6:1-7)
Now there are passages that actually say "baptism saves us" or a close variation of that. In Mark 16:16 Jesus says that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. In Titus 3:5 Paul says that we are saved by the washing of regeneration (born again John 3:5?) and in 1 Peter 3:21, Peter makes the connection between what happened with Noah and his baptism, and how now the waters of Baptism save us. It's important what Peter says though and some use this to say that he doesn't actually mean baptism saves because he says "not the removal of dirt from the body". That's an important distinction sure, but the whole verse needs to be used in context.
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 Pe 3:21
Some ambiguity is found depending on the translation as if it's "from a good conscience", or "the answer from a good conscience", but the implication is baptism has to be paired with faith, otherwise "it doesn't remove the dirt from the body". So baptismal regeneration, as is, baptism alone will save, is not correct. But the scriptural pattern, started with John the Baptist actually.
John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Lk 3:2–3
John's "baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." was carried on into the church as declared by Peter on the day of Pentecost "Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins" only then Peter added the baptism of Jesus which was in the Holy Spirit "and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
Blessings
Romans 6:3-4 + Colossians 2:11-12 both say we die to our old sin nature, are buried with Jesus, and rise to new life in baptism. Well Colossians takes an extra step and describes our dying to sin as Jesus cutting away the "body of flesh", but this is done in baptism. So from these two passages, we see how baptism effects the spiritual life of a convert. The power of sin is destroyed (Romans 6:1-7) and they are united with Christ (Galatians 3:25-27) to walk in new life, the new birth. So when Paul writes things like 2 Corinthians 5:17, "If anyone is IN CHRIST, they are a new creation..." He is making an indirect reference to a person's baptism, that when done IN FAITH actually has effect and power.
I would say that the Baptism of Moses (1 Corinthians 10:1-2) and the Baptism of Noah (1 Peter 3:20) are obviously literal events that happened, but also types for us in the new covenant. Shadows of what would be in the future. (Romans 15:4) Just as the children of Israel were baptized into Moses through the sea, so too do new believers get baptized into Christ by "the washing of pure water" (Ephesians 5:26, Hebrews 10:22) Just as the waters of Noah, destroyed sin and evil so that the righteous would live, so too does the baptismal water end the power of sin and evil in the life of a believer so they might live to righteousness in the Spirit (Romans 6:1-7)
Now there are passages that actually say "baptism saves us" or a close variation of that. In Mark 16:16 Jesus says that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. In Titus 3:5 Paul says that we are saved by the washing of regeneration (born again John 3:5?) and in 1 Peter 3:21, Peter makes the connection between what happened with Noah and his baptism, and how now the waters of Baptism save us. It's important what Peter says though and some use this to say that he doesn't actually mean baptism saves because he says "not the removal of dirt from the body". That's an important distinction sure, but the whole verse needs to be used in context.
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 Pe 3:21
Some ambiguity is found depending on the translation as if it's "from a good conscience", or "the answer from a good conscience", but the implication is baptism has to be paired with faith, otherwise "it doesn't remove the dirt from the body". So baptismal regeneration, as is, baptism alone will save, is not correct. But the scriptural pattern, started with John the Baptist actually.
John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Lk 3:2–3
John's "baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." was carried on into the church as declared by Peter on the day of Pentecost "Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins" only then Peter added the baptism of Jesus which was in the Holy Spirit "and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
Blessings