Correspondingto that, baptismnowsavesyou-- not the removalof dirtfrom the flesh,but an appealto Godfor a goodconscience--throughthe resurrectionof JesusChrist,
"In that daya fountainwill be openedfor the houseof Davidand for the inhabitantsof Jerusalem,for sinand for impurity.
"Gothereforeand make disciplesof allthe nations,baptizingthem in the nameof the Fatherand the Sonand the HolySpirit,
"He who has believedand has been baptizedshall be saved;but he who has disbelievedshall be condemned.
SimonPetersaidto Him, "Lord,[then wash] not onlymy feet,but alsomy handsand my head."
And he tookthem that [very] hourof the nightand washedtheir wounds,and immediatelyhe was baptized,he and allhis [household].
Peter[said] to them, "Repent,and eachof you be baptizedin the nameof JesusChristfor the forgivenessof your sins;and you will receivethe giftof the HolySpirit.
Nowwhydo you delay?Getup and be baptized,and wash awayyour sins,callingon His name.'
As they wentalongthe roadthey cameto somewater;and the eunuchsaid,"Look!Water!Whatpreventsme from being baptized?"
[And Philipsaid,"Ifyou believewith allyour heart,you may."And he answeredand said,"I believethat JesusChristis the Sonof God.]"
Neverthelessdeathreignedfrom AdamuntilMoses,evenoverthosewho had not sinnedin the likenessof the offenseof Adam,whois a typeof Him who was to come.
For by oneSpiritwe were allbaptizedinto onebody,whetherJewsorGreeks,whetherslavesorfree,and we were allmade to drinkof oneSpirit.
Nowthese things,brethren,I have figuratively appliedto myselfand Apollosfor your sakes,sothat in us you may learnnot to exceedwhatis written,sothat nooneof you will become arrogantin behalfof oneagainstthe other.
For our proud confidenceis this:the testimonyof our conscience,that in holinessand godlysincerity,not in fleshlywisdombut in the graceof God,we have conductedourselves in the world,and especiallytowardyou.
Therefore,havingthesepromises,beloved,let us cleanseourselvesfrom alldefilementof fleshand spirit,perfectingholinessin the fearof God.
For all of you whowere baptizedinto Christhave clothedyourselves with Christ.
sothat He might sanctifyher, having cleansedher by the washingof waterwith the word,
having been buriedwith Him in baptism,in whichyou were alsoraisedup with Him throughfaithin the workingof God,who raisedHim from the dead.
But the goalof our instructionis lovefrom a pureheartand a goodconscienceand a sincerefaith.
Fightthe goodfightof faith;take holdof the eternallifeto whichyou were called,and you madethe goodconfessionin the presenceof manywitnesses.
let us draw nearwith a sincereheartin full assuranceof faith,having our heartssprinkled[clean] from an evilconscienceand our bodieswashedwith purewater.
He consideredthat Godis ableto raise[people] evenfrom the dead,from whichhe alsoreceived him backas a type.
Prayfor us, for we are surethat we havea goodconscience,desiringto conductourselves honorablyin all things.
how muchmorewill the bloodof Christ,whothroughthe eternalSpiritofferedHimselfwithout blemishto God,cleanseyour consciencefrom deadworksto servethe livingGod?
For Christdid not entera holy placemade with hands,a [mere] copyof the true one,but into heavenitself,nowto appearin the presenceof Godfor us;
Blessedbe the Godand Fatherof our LordJesusChrist,who accordingto His greatmercyhas caused us to be born againto a livinghopethroughthe resurrectionof JesusChristfrom the dead,
and keepa goodconsciencesothat in the thing in whichyou are slandered,thosewho revileyour goodbehaviorin Christwill be put to shame.
