We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink.
The water of the flood is a picture of the way that baptism now saves you too. It doesn’t save you by washing the dirt off your body. Instead, it’s your way of promising God that you’ll keep a clear conscience by the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
But John said to everyone, “I’m baptizing you with water, but someone is coming who’s more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
“I’m baptizing you with water so you can show that you’ve turned away from your sins. But someone is coming after me who’s more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
But anyone who drinks the water I give them will never get thirsty. In fact, the water I give them will become a spring of water inside them bubbling up into eternal life.”
I didn’t know who it would be, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘When you see the Spirit come down and rest on someone, that’s the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
God has chosen to make known to them the glorious riches of that mystery among the Gentiles. And here’s what it is: Christ is in you, the hope of glory.
He was circumcised as a sign, as an indication that his faith had already made him right with God before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the father of all who are made right with God by believing, even though they haven’t been circumcised.