1 Peter 3:21

New International Reader's Version

The water of the flood is a picture. It is a picture of the baptism that now saves you too. This baptism has nothing to do with removing dirt from your body. Instead, it promises God that you will keep a clear sense of right and wrong. This baptism saves you by the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

Cross References

Zechariah 13:1

“At that time a fountain will be opened for the benefit of David’s family line. It will also bless the others who live in Jerusalem. It will wash away their sins. It will make them pure and ‘clean.’

Matthew 28:19

So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:16

Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who does not believe will be punished.

John 13:9

“Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet! Wash my hands and my head too!”

Acts 16:33

At that hour of the night, the jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their wounds. Right away he and everyone who lived with him were baptized.

Acts 2:38

Peter replied, “All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16

So what are you waiting for? Get up and call on his name. Be baptized. Have your sins washed away.’

Acts 8:36

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water. The official said, “Look! Here is water! What can stop me from being baptized?”

Romans 5:14

Death ruled from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. Death ruled even over those who did not sin as Adam did. He broke God’s command. But Adam also became a pattern of the Messiah. The Messiah was the one who was going to come.

1 Corinthians 12:13

We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink.

1 Corinthians 4:6

Brothers and sisters, I have used myself and Apollos as examples to help you. You can learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Don’t go beyond what is written.” Then you won’t be proud that you follow one of us instead of the other.

2 Corinthians 1:12

Here is what we take pride in. Our sense of what is right and wrong tells us how we have acted. We have lived with honor and godly honesty. We have depended on God’s grace and not on the world’s wisdom. We lived that way most of all when we were dealing with you.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Dear friends, we have these promises from God. So let us make ourselves pure from everything that makes our bodies and spirits impure. Let us be completely holy. We want to honor God.

Galatians 3:27

This is because all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. You have put him on as if he were your clothes.

Ephesians 5:26

He did it to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her with water and the word.

Colossians 2:12

When you were baptized, you were buried together with Christ. And you were raised to life together with him when you were baptized. You were raised to life by believing in God’s work. God himself raised Jesus from the dead.

1 Timothy 1:5

Love is the purpose of my command. Love comes from a pure heart. It comes from a good sense of what is right and wrong. It comes from faith that is honest and true.

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight along with all other believers. Take hold of eternal life. You were chosen for it when you openly told others what you believe. Many witnesses heard you.

Hebrews 10:22

So let us come near to God with a sincere heart. Let us come near boldly because of our faith. Our hearts have been sprinkled. Our minds have been cleansed from a sense of guilt. Our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Hebrews 11:19

Abraham did this, because he believed that God could even raise the dead. In a way, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Hebrews 13:18

Pray for us. We feel sure we have done what is right. We desire to live as we should in every way.

Hebrews 9:14

But Christ offered himself to God without any flaw. He did this through the power of the eternal Holy Spirit. So how much cleaner will the blood of Christ make us! It washes away our feelings of guilt for committing sin. Sin always leads to death. But now we can serve the living God.

Hebrews 9:24

Christ did not enter a sacred tent made with human hands. That tent was only a copy of the true one. He entered heaven itself. He did it to stand in front of God for us. He is there right now.

1 Peter 1:3

Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us a new birth and a living hope. This hope is living because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

1 Peter 3:16

Live so that you don’t have to feel you’ve done anything wrong. Some people may say evil things about your good conduct as believers in Christ. If they do, they will be put to shame for speaking like this about you.