according to Peter in 1 Peter 3 - the life changing .. saving action in Baptism has nothing to do with water but rather "an appeal to God for a clean conscience" -- by the one being baptized.
That fact alone - clears up a lot of confusion. This is not "baptismal regeneration" rather it is the outward act that testifies to a prior action by the sinner that is "the appeal to God for a clean conscience". It is one of the first actions of the born-again saved believer in following the Word of God... experiencing both a personal testimony given and the walk of obedience instead of continued rebellion.
1 Peter 3:21 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,
It is a fitting symbol of , death ,burial and resurrection with Christ.
Rom 6: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is freed from sin.
