“Baptism saves?” Better check your Bible to see if this is really what the Bible says. “Baptism saves?” Surely, that can’t be right! That sounds like another one of those embarrassing statements that so often make everything “Canadian Reformed” sound suspect in the Reformed community. In fact, this claim also caused some disquiet in one of our own Bible study meetings recently. In a discussion on 1 Peter 3, the question was asked whether we should teach our children that they are saved by baptism – which is what Peter seems to be saying – and the consensus was that such a statement must be qualified in some way. According to the meeting, our children cannot be left to walk around with the idea that they are saved by baptism. Because they just might believe it. And subsequently they might presume that baptism takes the place of a living faith in Jesus Christ. The assertion that “baptism saves” was considered to be singularly unhelpful.

But obviously the apostle Peter was not concerned that his readers might believe that they were saved by baptism. Instead Peter says it very boldly: baptism now saves you. What could be clearer than that? And yet – like all other words in Scripture – these words must also be read carefully. Because the apostle does not argue that many years ago, when you were baptized, you were saved. Peter does not claim that when you were baptized, your salvation happened. Instead Peter speaks to the baptized community today, and he tells us what is happening in our lives today. Peter says: now – that is, today, in the year of our Lord, 2004 – now baptism saves you.

And you ask how it is possible that baptism saves you today? Well, a long time ago, when you were baptized, God spoke to you. Then God promised to wash you clean with his blood and Spirit. And then the words that God spoke to you at your baptism were not meant to be filed away in a photo album. Instead you are required to use your baptism now. You must put your baptism to work today. You must believe the promise of salvation, which was confirmed and sealed to you in your baptism. And you must repent from your sins and turn to God by living a new life. When you use your baptism in this way, your baptism truly does save you.

It is interesting to read how the NIV Study Bible explains this particular verse. The note suggests that “the act of baptism is a commitment on the part of the believer in all good conscience to make sure that what baptism symbolizes will become a reality in his life.” This implies that my baptism was a sign and seal of my promise to God. It implies that – at baptism – I committed myself to God, and I used baptism to symbolize my commitment.

This explanation really does remove the heart of baptism. But the apostle is not speaking about what our baptism means for God. Instead he is telling us that baptism is now saving us. And whether Peter refers to baptism as a pledge of a good conscience (NIV) or appeal for a clear conscience (RSV), that really makes no difference. Instead, when Martin Luther wrestled with doubt about his salvation, Luther is reputed to have scrawled in large print on his desk, “I have been baptized.” Luther understood that baptism was not a commitment to God on his part. Instead, God had spoken to him through baptism. Then God had promised to save him from sin and give him eternal life. And so, when Luther was assailed by doubts, when Luther was plagued by a guilty conscience, he remembered his baptism! And then Luther appealed to God on the basis of his baptism. Luther said: God, through baptism you promised to forgive my sins. And so, give me a clean conscience! Luther prayed for forgiveness and faith. And the basis of his prayer was the objective fact that – through baptism – God had already made a commitment to save him. And because Luther was baptized, he dared to say: indeed, Jesus Christ has paid for my sins! And God has given me the Holy Spirit! I know it, said Luther, because I am baptized.

Does baptism save? Of course baptism does not replace a living faith in Jesus Christ, but baptism does save. Baptism saves in the same way as preaching saves. When you believe the Gospel that is preached, you are saved. But the Gospel according to Peter is that when you believe the Gospel that is signified and sealed to you through holy baptism, you are saved. So do not underestimate the importance of baptism. Instead, respect the preaching and the sacraments as divine gifts which are instruments used by the Holy Spirit to give you a saving faith.