Type/Antitype #1 - Flood Waters

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him."

-1 Peter 3:18-22 (NKJV)

So what is an antitype?  And why is that important to this passage?  The word "antitype", from the Greek antitupos, means:  

1) a thing formed after some pattern

2) a thing resembling another, its counterpart
2a) something in the Messianic times which answers to the type (definition taken from net.bible.org)

So antitype literally means the thing that is not the type (or prefigured pattern) but is the reality the type previously pointed to.  Peter says that the deluge was a type for baptism.  Noah and his family were saved from a world of godless murderers (Genesis 6:13) through the water (because of their obedience to God's command), and we are saved from our sinful selves through baptism (or more literally, immersion).  

Some will say that baptism is merely some outward show for everyone else.  I would contend that nowhere is baptism recorded as a way of proclaiming your faith- people did that by actually proclaiming their faith and also turning from sin.  Compare the two accounts of Paul's conversion (Account #1 and Account #2).

It is, however, recorded as an actual death of your old self and a resurrection to a new life- apart from sin.  If we cannot bring ourselves to partake of Christ's death, how can we expect to join in His life?

"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."  

- Romans 6:3-6

"In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."

-Colossians 2:11-12

"Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"

-Acts 2:37-38

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

-Galatians 3:27

How important is this step to one that comes to a faith in Christ?  In Paul's case that we read about, Ananias asks "why are you waiting? (or 'why tarriest thou?' in the AV)"  Paul had only just been able to see and had not eaten or drunk anything in three days.  Ananias seemed to feel it was imperative.  Paul responded in kind and did not eat until after he had been baptized.  When did Paul believe?  Did that belief save him?  If you are unsure, read the accounts again.

Acts is full of examples that speak to the imperative nature of baptism.

The Ethiopian eunuch.  It is of interest that Phillip "preached Jesus" and the eunuch requested baptism in roadside water (in a place that is specified as desert by Luke).  Luke obviously considered teaching about baptism part of "preaching Jesus."  If belief is the sole basis of salvation, could baptism not have waited for cleaner water?  If faith is all one needs to have sins removed, would the Holy Spirit have not snatched Phillip up as soon as the eunuch confessed faith?

The Philippian jailer.  Note that baptism did not wait until morning when the earthquake happened at midnight, then preaching and then the jailer washed their wounds.  I have no idea what time the baptisms happened but it was well past midnight.  Pretty strange time to be baptized if it is just an outward sign of a pre-existing salvation.

What does Jesus say about baptism?  Surprisingly little (comparatively).  However, what He does say leaves little doubt as to the stakes involved.  Example #1.  Example #2.

Back to our original text.  Does the water save us?  Not any more than the water saved Noah.  God saved Noah through water.  God saves us through baptism.  This is not magic.  It is the first step in a journey of following Christ that will end in a reward for those who remain faithful.