and they were being baptizedby him in the JordanRiver,as they confessedtheir sins.
Now while Ezrawas prayingand makingconfession,weepingand prostratinghimself beforethe houseof God,a verylargeassembly,men,womenand children,gatheredto him from Israel;for the peopleweptbitterly.
I acknowledgedmy sinto You, And my iniquityI did not hide;I said,"I will confessmy transgressionsto the LORD";And You forgavethe guiltof my sin.Selah.
He who concealshis transgressionswill not prosper,But he who confessesand forsakes[them] will findcompassion.
"Then I will sprinklecleanwateron you, and you will be clean;I will cleanseyou from allyour filthinessand from allyour idols.
I prayedto the LORDmy Godand confessedand said,"Alas,O Lord,the greatand awesomeGod,who keepsHis covenantand lovingkindnessfor those who loveHim and keepHis commandments,
"Then Aaronshall laybothof his handson the headof the livegoat,and confessoverit allthe iniquitiesof the sonsof Israeland alltheir transgressionsin regard to alltheir sins;and he shall laythem on the headof the goatand send[it] awayinto the wildernessby the handof a manwho [stands] in readiness.
If they confesstheir iniquityand the iniquityof their forefathers,in their unfaithfulnesswhichthey committedagainst Me, and alsoin their actingwith hostilityagainstMe--
then he shall confesshis sinswhichhe has committed,and he shall makerestitutionin fullfor his wrongand addto it one-fifthof it, and give[it] to him whomhe has wronged.
"As for me, I baptizeyou with waterfor repentance,but He who is comingafterme is mightierthan I, and I amnot fitto removeHis sandals;He will baptizeyou with the HolySpiritand fire.
And allthe countryof Judeawas goingout to him, and allthe people of Jerusalem;and they were being baptizedby him in the JordanRiver,confessingtheir sins.
"And he will turnmanyof the sonsof Israelbackto the Lordtheir God.
Johnansweredand saidto them all,"As for me, I baptizeyou with water;but One is comingwho is mightierthan I, and I amnot fitto untiethe thongof His sandals;He will baptizeyou with the HolySpiritand fire.
for Johnbaptizedwith water,but you will be baptizedwith the HolySpiritnot manydaysfrom now."
"And I rememberedthe wordof the Lord,howHe used to say,Johnbaptizedwith water,but you will be baptizedwith the HolySpirit.'
Manyalsoof thosewho had believedkept coming,confessingand disclosingtheir practices.
Nowwhydo you delay?Getup and be baptized,and wash awayyour sins,callingon His name.'
and allwere baptizedinto Mosesin the cloudand in the sea;
having been buriedwith Him in baptism,in whichyou were alsoraisedup with Him throughfaithin the workingof God,who raisedHim from the dead.
of instructionabout washingsand layingon of hands,and the resurrectionof the deadand eternaljudgment.
since they [relate] onlyto foodand drinkand variouswashings,regulationsfor the bodyimposeduntila timeof reformation.
Therefore,confessyour sinsto oneanother,and prayfor one anothersothat you may be healed.The effectiveprayerof a righteous mancanaccomplishmuch.
Then Joshuasaidto Achan,"My son,I imploreyou, givegloryto the LORD,the Godof Israel,and givepraiseto Him; and tellme nowwhatyou have done.Do not hideit from me."
Correspondingto that, baptismnowsavesyou-- not the removalof dirtfrom the flesh,but an appealto Godfor a goodconscience--throughthe resurrectionof JesusChrist,
Ifwe confessour sins,He is faithfuland righteousto forgiveus our sinsand to cleanseus from allunrighteousness.
