“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, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” 1 Peter 3:21 (NIV)

As a child growing up in America during the Cold War, I not only learned the pledge of allegiance, but was passionately committed to it. Even as a kindergarten student I was very careful with the flag and remember being heartbroken to tears when I accidentally let the flag touch the ground. I had after all, pledged allegiance to the flag. 

Christian baptism is a pledge that supersedes all other pledges. Since ancient times, candidates for baptism were asked questions related to their faith in Christ and affirmative responses were given. The first of these traditional questions related to the putting off of sin:

Question: Do you renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pride and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that you will not follow nor be led by them?

Answer: I renounce them all.

Whether these words were said at your baptism or not (they weren’t at mine), believer’s baptism is a pledge that the LORD will be our God and that we will follow Jesus Christ in holiness and the rejection of sin. Peter is clear that baptism does not have the power to do this: “not the removal of dirt [rhypos, filth] from the body [sarx, flesh].” Rather, our baptism is the public pledge to turn away from sin and follow Jesus. The power to save is found in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. 

It is important that we live up to our pledge. If we are Christ’s, then we need to strive to live like it. We live in a world given over to sin. We daily face temptations to turn away from Christ. Even in our trials we may feel like giving up the battle and going with the flow, but we must our eyes on our Savior. Focus on Jesus, remember who you are, and keep going—together. 

That is another thing about our baptism. Our baptism is not a solitary affair. We are baptized into the body of Christ. Peter emphasized the eight that were saved through the flood were but a few. We may be few, but we are saved together. We need each other. We strive to be like-minded, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble with each other because this life is hard, we can’t make it without each other, and a lost world is watching. By God’s grace let’s go forward in the victory of Christ and keep our pledge to Jesus and to each other.