Then I will sprinkle pure water on you and make you pure. I will wash away all your filth. I will wash away the filth from those nasty idols and make you pure.”
On the seventh day, he must shave off all his hair. He must shave his head, his beard, and his eyebrows—yes, all his hair. Then he must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water. Then he will be clean.
“It may happen that the person with a discharge [240] has not washed his hands in water and touches another person. Then that other person must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean [241] until evening.
“When the person with a discharge [243] is ready to be made clean, he must wait seven days before he will be made clean. Then he must wash his clothes and bathe his body in running water. Then he will become clean. [244]
If a person touches any of those things, he will become unclean until evening. That person must not eat any of the holy food. Even if he washes with water, he can’t eat the holy food.
“I baptize {\cf2\super [41]} you with water to show that you changed your hearts and lives. But there is a person coming later that is greater than I am. I am not good enough to take off his shoes for him. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [42]} and with fire.
We have been cleansed and made free from feelings of guilt. And our bodies have been washed with pure water. So come near to God with a sincere (true) heart, feeling sure because of our faith.
That water is like baptism {\cf2\super [26]} that now saves you. Baptism is not the washing of dirt from the body. Baptism is asking God for a pure heart. It saves you because Jesus Christ was raised from death.