1 Peter 3:21 (ASV)

Passage

which also after a true likeness doth now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:19 in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,

1 Peter 3:20 that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

1 Peter 3:21 which also after a true likeness doth now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

1 Peter 3:22 who is one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "after", "true", "likeness", "doth", "save", "even", "baptism", and "putting". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "after" and "true", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "that aforetime were disobedient when the longsuffering..." into verse 22's "who is one the right hand of...", so "after" and "true" belong inside that flow. In 1 Peter context, the local focus is hope in suffering, holy conduct, submission, and grace.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "after" and "true" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.