Peter preaches baptism [ As per below passage,there is lacking in the comment that "Peter preaches baptism" rather Peter preached the same Jesus as crucified being both Lord and Christ Acts 2:36 and when people heard about it, they pricked in their heart which is a sorrow and remorse, somehow it is a sort of repentance. That's what people did, they repented, (comma) and were baptized...]
Peter commanded the baptism of the Gentiles in water [ So also wit this one, Peter preached and testified the Gospel, the good news of Christ death, burial and resurrection and that whosoever believeth in him shall receive remissions of sins and that those who believe were commanded to baptized..."The whosoever believeth" is given an everlasting life John 3:16 ]
As they were earlier baptized in Acts 10:47-48 [ Likewise, " bodies washed with pure water" has nothing to do with taking away our sins, verse 22 speaks of water as sprinkling and not immersion...]
Like figure whereunto doth also now save us [ If it is a "Like figure", therefore it is a type nothing else.]
Buried with him in baptism ""wherein"" ye are also risen with him
"through faith" of "the operation of God" [ Here is the pre-text to be certainly missed if skip and hope, mix and match in a theological interpretations:
Colossians 2: 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Colossians 2: 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2: 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Colossians 2: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2: 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ
What is being missed? "faith in Christ v.5, "As ye have therefore received Christ..." v.6, Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith..." v7 and the kind of baptism is the spiritual baptism not in a muddy water.]
I will wait for the particular problem or obsession you speak of