Baptism...Now Saves You

Peter makes reference to baptism as that which, corresponding to Noah's flood waters, now saves you. Some take this to mean that baptism effects salvation. However, Peter immediately clarifies his statement as not asserting that baptism cleanses someone from moral filth, but rather, stands as a (public) declaration of conscience to serve Christ even in the midst of such persecution as Peter's readers now face. His reference to baptism is both as a metonymy for the Christian life as well as a reminder of their Christian commitment.