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Paul was rebuking the church at Corinth for having a very inflated view of the rite of baptism as far as meaning and import, and he rather directed them to the reality of union with Christ that the rite represents (Romans 6:3-4), which is not by water but by spirit.

1Pe 3:20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 1Pe 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Do you have this verse in your Bible?

Seems pretty clear that Baptism is pretty important since that is what you.

Jesus gave us this to draw us into union/ communion with Him.

Now I have read the Bible cover to cover and i don't see a single verse about the sinners prayer or how that will save you. Can you cite it for me?

Peter speaks symbolically of baptism just as Paul contends in I Corinthians, verga. Were the occupants of the ark baptized by virtue of being guided safely through the water? Does Peter speak mechanically of the rite of baptism, as if the act alone has the power of salvation?

No, according to your cite, he elaborates that baptism saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body (not dependent upon a physical act that men can undertake) but as an appeal to God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is this that Paul rebuked the "some among you" at Corinth for overlooking, allowing a mechanical, almost magical belief in the ritual of baptism to overshadow the spiritual unity with Jesus Christ that is the purpose and the reality behind the representation.

This excessive faith in ritual fostered further belief that the physical actions of men can supplant the grace of God, and led to practicing baptism of the dead at Corinth by some, which Paul rebuked as being just as wrong as believing there will be no resurrection of the dead, which was believed and taught by the same people, contrary to the gospel that was taught and preached by Paul.

Surely as a Catholic you're not advocating the practice of baptizing the dead. If not, then how is this passage, even misinterpreted as somehow favoring purgatory, in any way in support of any other belief since there is no belief in the practice?

Well, Mormons believe in it. Christians including Catholics don't, unless I've been very remiss in understanding what I've been reading here on the FR religion forum for years. I believe in the resurrection of the dead. I do not believe in the baptism of the dead. I do not believe in purgatory. How about you?