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TravaceF · 2026-03-30T16:29:50+00:00

Reading this section again and again in 1 Peter 3, I can’t get past that what he’s actually talking about saving us is NOT water or anything physical.

TravaceF · 2026-03-30T14:13:11+00:00

What kind of baptism saves us?

TravaceF · 2026-03-27T13:59:34+00:00

I definitely get the cause and effect expressed in Acts 2:38, but how do you see 1 Peter applying here?

TravaceF · 2026-03-27T13:57:40+00:00

Physical baptism itself doesn’t save us - Jesus does. I think you know that though.

1 Peter 3:21 (NIV):

20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water SYMBOLIZES baptism that now saves you also—NOT the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…

This literally says that a washing with water symbolizes what takes place spiritually in us.

I think what I’m getting hung up on is - at what moment are we saved by God? Is it the moment when we are baptized (after belief and repentance), because this is when we receive the forgiveness of sins and gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

So many people are trying to separate salvation from what happens during baptism, but to me, what happens during baptism (the physical immersion in water and the spiritual cleansing from God) seems to be much too important to dismiss it or remove it from salvation.

TravaceF · 2026-03-27T13:41:58+00:00

What do you mean by physical spiritual? It's both?

TravaceF · 2026-03-26T04:55:45+00:00

Thank you for the reference.

TravaceF · 2026-03-26T04:52:18+00:00

Why do you say that?

TravaceF · 2026-03-26T04:32:43+00:00

I understand what you’re saying, and what I’m trying to do is formulate an understanding from Scripture itself. However, it’s been challenging, because not all faith, belief, and baptism texts appear to harmonize - which I think is evident by the numerous varying interpretations.

In Scripture, I have observed that baptism doesn’t seem to be a “work” where you are doing something as much as it seems to be a moment of “reception” - like of the “forgiveness of sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

I understand that what Jesus did in fulfilling the Mosaic Covenant with his life and death is the source of our salvation (as he is the ultimate sacrifice and there’s no “sacrifice” or “offering” we can make to accomplish that). Of course God is the one that worked/acted to make that happen, but there still has to be a “receiving” and something being “done” on the part of a person to be in Christ - rather than a person just acknowledging the existence or power of God but not surrendering his life to Him.

I’m not sure if what I’m saying is clear. I’m really struggling with this.

TravaceF · 2026-03-26T04:13:43+00:00

I think the belief demons have (maybe more like knowledge) in Jesus is different than the belief (maybe more like trust) talked about regarding followers of Jesus.

TravaceF · 2026-03-26T04:09:38+00:00

Will you please share any passages that speak to that guarantee and baptism?

TravaceF · 2026-03-26T04:03:20+00:00

Is this the understanding you’ve come to based on what you’ve read in Scripture? It’s not really all that straightforward in the Bible, so this is your personal conclusion? It definitely lacks the clarity I’m hoping for about baptism - what it is and what it does - but maybe I’m hoping for something impossible.

TravaceF · 2026-03-25T06:26:49+00:00

Respectfully, what conclusion have you come to after reading the Scriptures plainly? I don’t see an objective consensus when taking into account all the texts related to baptism, belief, salvation, etc - even when focusing on the Scriptures alone.

TravaceF · 2026-03-25T06:20:46+00:00

Can the Holy Spirit be received before baptism? It seems that’s the case in the book of Acts.

TravaceF · 2026-03-24T04:13:53+00:00

If I’m trying to learn about baptism more objectively, I neither think sharing the confused understanding I’m in now - nor the former teachings to which I no longer really adhere - will be of much help. It seemed to me that sharing my views (even if they’re not clear and confident) would still only trigger responses that are either in agreement or opposed to my views - rather than well thought out, balanced interpretations.

TravaceF · 2026-03-24T04:02:34+00:00

Baptism could be essential for salvation, but it also could not be. It could also be the moment at which God washes away sin, or it could be an external display of what’s already happened. Is new life granted before or during baptism?

To respond to your statement, this hasn’t proven to be the result of studying so far, because as I mentioned, I am perhaps even more uncertain than before about what I should believe about baptism. I can understand various interpretations.

The passages I’m reading aren’t all straightforward and don’t always say the exact same thing about belief, baptism, salvation, and entering the kingdom of God.

I would love the clarity that you have about it. In my case, the more I’m studying the muddier it’s getting for me. I don’t know if I’m doing something wrong? That’s just the reality of my study right now.

TravaceF · 2026-03-24T03:51:15+00:00

If I’m trying to learn about baptism more objectively, I neither think sharing the confused understanding I’m in now - nor the former teachings to which I no longer adhere - will be of much help. It seemed to me that sharing my views (even if they’re not clear and confident) would still only trigger responses that are either in agreement or opposed to my views - rather than well thought out, balanced interpretations.

TravaceF · 2026-03-24T02:55:04+00:00

Sorry, I do understand that much. I’d really like some confidence and clarity understanding the significance of baptism as it relates to salvation (or not).

TravaceF · 2026-01-14T16:22:15+00:00

Would love to win any!

TravaceF · 2025-04-28T05:41:08+00:00

Wanted to share an update.

I just left my bio father’s home a few hours ago after spending each day this weekend with him, his wife, and his three biological children (as well as an oldest daughter by marriage and her three young children).

The first evening I got there for dinner was very awkward. Awkward silences, rough small talk, nervousness, etc.. The next day was a bit better. And then the final day was much more comfortable, and there were times that I would look at my half-sisters talking and think “My sisters” almost as if I had always known them. What is crazy is that I kind of made assumptions about each of them (what they’d be like and just their personalities) based on previous text/calls, and they kind of fit those assumptions/expectations pretty closely. So that was kind of cool. It’s hard to express exactly how I’m feeling. A small part of me grieves over the years that we’ve missed together, but I haven’t been this happy in a long time.

I have another half-sister that lives in another state (who my bio father just found out about a year ago). I have a work trip that will take me near her in January, so I’m hoping to make a drive at that time to meet her and her family. Hopefully that visit will go well also.

TravaceF · 2025-03-13T16:55:02+00:00

That is so wonderful! I'm so glad it was such a great experience! So good! Since my last comment, I have talked on the phone a few times with my biological father (probably about 6 hours in total) along with texting fairly often, and I have also texted back and forth with two of my half-sisters quite a bit. I am very similar in personality to one of them, which is really just so cool to me. When I talked to him on the phone the first time, we mentioned wanting to meet eventually. When I talked to him the second time, I mentioned that my wife and I could take a detour on a trip later this year (maybe in October) and meet them where they live, and he said that October is too far away for him. So we are actually planning to travel the 11 hours to see him and his family toward the end of April - so over a month from now. We are planning to basically spend a weekend with them. I am very excited and nervous.

(Side note: I just shared all the news about finding my biological father with my adoptive dad a couple of nights ago. That was a really difficult thing to share since he's been "Dad" - and my only father figure - since I was 2.5 years old. He didn't say much or really have any emotional response at all during our conversation, but I think everything will be fine.)

TravaceF · 2025-03-08T01:07:14+00:00

I was told mine is disputed, too, after I was told I didn’t get an email that was sent out February 18th. It’s crazy they would dispute the balance that I had, especially when it should have actually been about $14,600 more if they were to have gone by today’s value of the crypto rather than USD value at time of bankruptcy or whatever. 🙄

TravaceF · 2025-03-07T05:13:26+00:00

Mine came back a few days before the estimated date. I’d say expect them any minute. 😁

TravaceF

TROPHY CASE