The person is saved the moment he places his faith in the Lord Jesus. Water baptism is the visible testimony to his faith and the salvation he was given in answer to that faith. Peter is careful to inform his readers that he is not teaching baptismal regeneration, namely, that a person who submits to baptism is thereby regenerated, for he says, 'not the putting away of the filth of the flesh.' Baptism, Peter explains, does not wash away the filth of the flesh, either in a literal sense as a bath for the body, nor in a metaphorical sense as a cleansing for the soul. No ceremonies really affect the conscience.
Walang seremonya ang maaaring magdulot ng anumang pagbabago sa konsensya. Ngunit ipinaliwanag ni Pedro kung ano ang kanyang ibig sabihin sa pamamagitan ng mga salitang "isang pangako sa Diyos buhat sa isang malinis na budhi," at ipinaliwanag niya kung paano ito naganap, at ito ay sa pamamagitan ng, "muling pagkabuhay ni Hesu Kristo'" kung kanino ang isang mananampalataya nakiisa sa Kanya sa Kanyang pagkabuhay na muli."