"...when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (
1 Peter 3:20-21).
In other words, baptism saves you but not for the putting away the filth of the flesh (i.e. sin), but as an answer of a good conscience toward God. This is a "
like figure" (i.e. parallel) of how Noah and his family (i.e. the eight souls within the Ark) were saved from the Global Flood. However, Noah already found grace in the eyes of the Lord before building the Ark. Noah already had grace and was saved before building the Ark; Just as Abraham believed God and he accounted to him as righteousness.
See, your works don't save you. God does not weigh your good deeds and your bad deeds. Nor does God save you by what you do, either. God saves you by His mercy and by the washing and regeneration of the Holy Ghost (
Titus 3:5). THEN.....
After the transformation (Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly), will works follow because it is God doing the work thru that person. They are transformed and are saved and they KNOW IT. There is no question of their salvation because the Spirit confirms they are saved.
Anyways, I hope this helps, my friend.