What does it mean to be SAVED? Question: In 1 Peter 3:20, when the Bible says saved, does it mean saved in a spiritual sense or a natural sense?

Short Answer: What does it mean to be SAVED?

In the Old Testament, the concept of salvation often revolved around deliverance from adversaries and troubles, offering the people a chance at life. Noah and his sons serve as an example of this salvation, as they were physically saved from the flood’s devastation. This serves as a symbolic parallel to baptism, where individuals are now spiritually saved according to 1 Peter 3:20-21. Unlike the physical cleansing associated with the flood, baptism brings about a spiritual transformation.

The significance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection becomes apparent in the context of baptism. Through baptism, one goes through a change and emerges as a new creature, as expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Jesus came to save us from sin (Mat. 1:21) so we could have eternal life. So what does it mean to be saved? It means to be saved FROM danger unto life.

Learn more about being saved in Born of Water (p. 97-102)

Scripture Outline:

• In the Old Testament, they were always saved from something (their enemy and trouble) and saved to something (life)
• In the Old Testament, Noah and his sons were saved alive physically and that is a like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us spiritually (1 Pet. 3:20-21)
• Now with baptism it is not a physical salvation but a spiritual salvation — not the putting away of the filth of the flesh
• The resurrection of Jesus Christ is important in our baptism — we come out different than we came in; we come out a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17)