Our conscience was polluted by sin, but we have been washed, we have been sanctified, we have been cleansed by the washing of the water of the Word. And so baptism is the answer of a clear conscience toward God; as Peter says, " 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. " (1 Peter 3:21)
It's the heart that matters; and Christ purifies our conscience so that we may serve Him in the new way of the Spirit. Baptism is the bridge from the old life to the new; everything of the old is washed away and the new begins. So we're only eligible for baptism when we know we are dead. Do people bury the living, or do they bury the dead? Baptism is burial, and only the dead are buried. As it says, " Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we may live a new way of life. " (Romans 6:4)
And we have been made to die through the body of Jesus Christ - for He died to sin once for all; so we are dead. Furthermore, Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. " (Acts 2:28)
For repentance and confession proceeds baptism, even as it was in John's days; they came to him confessing their sins, and were baptized. And so, we are buried into Jesus' death, and His death was to sin, He had no sin. And since He died for our sins, we ought to die in the likeness of His death, that is, to our sins, reckoning ourselves as dead to sin. In truth, He died for us, so we reckon ourselves to be dead. The one who has died is released from the law, for the law only applies when one is living. When a married woman dies she is free from the law which binds her to her husband (Romans 7:1-6). And so likewise, we have died to the law through the body of Jesus Christ, so that we may be joined to Him who was raised from the dead; and since we have died to the law, we have died to sin. So we are baptized into the body of Jesus as members of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). And God gives to us new life by Him who was raised from the dead, for we put on Christ like new clothes in baptism (Galatians 3:27). As it says in Hosea, "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him.” (Hosea 6:2)
In the Old Covenant, priests were not allowed to touch a dead body, otherwise they would defile themselves - so others buried the dead. However in the New Covenant, priests (and we are a royal priesthood) bury the dead, that is, in baptism; as Christ says, " Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God. " (Luke 9:60)
And with preaching the Gospel comes baptizing the dead; and the dead are baptized into Christ Jesus, buried with Him. And Christ's tomb is a living tomb, as it was with Elisha's bones; as it says, " Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. " (2 Kings 13:32)
So the tomb which was supposed to inhabit death, brought forth life; and so through the way of death, life is established; as Paul says, " For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. " (2 Corinthains 4:11)
The law was made as a fertile womb, but it brought forth children to death; a tomb is made by men to inhabit death. But Christ's tomb brings forth children to life; for anyone baptized into Christ are baptized into death and raised to new life. For Christ has been raised, and we are made alive to God through faith in Him. Water itself does not save; water has no merit on a person's salvation. Rather, it is the spirit of baptism that has merit: which is being united with Christ in His death. Therefore, after you have believed, be baptized, calling upon the name of the Lord. " And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. " (Acts 22:16)
The meaning of baptism matters more than the water of baptism: for look to the man on the cross next to Jesus as an example (Luke 23:39-43); the thief on the cross was baptized more than anyone of us who are baptized in water; for baptism is being united with Christ in His death, and the thief on the cross was united with Him in His death more so than anyone of us dipped into water! He was baptized into Him as he believed and confessed His guilt on the cross; so you see, physical water does not save anyone. Similarily, there were Jews who did not ceremonially cleanse themselves for the Passover, and were still allowed to eat because they're hearts were sanctified by faith; so they are a type of those who are saved although they do not cleanse themselves according to the physical requirement (2 Chronicles 30:18-19). And they were pardoned by God when Hezekiah, the king at the time, prayed for them. But know for sure the Scriptures command us, "Be baptized", so it would be disobedience on our part if we don't. We ought to have fruit of faith before baptism. Why would anyone be baptized into Christ without any faith? Why not take a bath in that case! It is Christ who saves and you are entering into salvation through Him. So don't be deceived into thinking, "I don't have faith, but I'll be baptized anyway." As if it's the water that saves you; instead: believe the Gospel. Nothing inanimate saves: not money, nor technology, not a home, nor a bunker, nor a mansion, not water, nor bread, nor wine, not parent, nor ancestor. Be sanctified; for without holiness no-one will see the Lord. As it says, "The day of death better than the day of birth." (Ecclesiastes 7:1) For the old must die, and with the death of the old comes the new; the old is temporary and passing away, but the end brings forth the new, which is everlasting. We enter into the new through the death of the old.
God gave us tangible reminders of spiritual truths: baptism reminds us of our death and burial, bread and wine reminds us of the Lord's body and blood (and not to mention all the parables, they describe spiritual truths using physical things). Baptism is effective because of the resurrection of Christ; as Peter says, “Baptism now saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21) And so we are justified by faith in that God raised Christ from the dead; as Paul says, "And believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (...) For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness.” (Romans 10:9) Therefore, faith justifies because of the resurrection from the dead; as Paul says, "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14) Furthermore, Jesus rose from the dead - and so our guilt is removed. For Joseph's brothers who betrayed him had guilt as long as they believed Joseph was dead; however when he was found to be alive, they didn't have guilt anymore. But afterwards they feared punishment, for love had not been perfected in them. [“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18)] For they thought after their father died, Joseph would take revenge; but it was not so, as Joseph said, " As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. " (Genesis 50:20)
Also, when the offerer in the temple sacrificed an innocent lamb, he still had guilt because the innocent lamb was slain on his behalf (I hope the LORD God gives you insight into all these things). So concerning baptism, if there is no resurrection, then baptism should cease. For John died, and we no longer see men being baptized into him. But we do see men being baptized into Christ, for He lives. If there is no resurrection, why are we baptized for the dead? As the apostle Paul says, " If these things (the resurrection from the dead) are not so, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? " (1 Corinthians 15:29)
So therefore, baptism is effective because of the resurrection. And He is Lord; “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” (Romans 14:9) Many people have gods made of wood and stone, but we, a living God, Jesus Christ, who needs not anything from our hands, but gives us all things, even His life, that we may live by Him. If He had not been raised, how are we any different than those who worship mute idols? “Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning.” (1 Corinthians 15:33-34) For Jesus Christ is Lord and alive from the dead; He lives forevermore.