²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(A) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(B) toward God.^[a] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^(C)

¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.^(A)

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,^(A) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.^(B) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^(C)

²⁵ I will sprinkle^(A) clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse^(B) you from all your impurities^(C) and from all your idols.^{(D) 26} I will give you a new heart^(E) and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone^(F) and give you a heart of flesh.^(G)

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!^(A) In his great mercy^(B) he has given us new birth^(C) into a living hope^(D) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,^(E)

²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(A) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^(B)

¹³ For we were all baptized^(A) by^[a] one Spirit^(B) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(C)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^(D)

¹⁶ And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized^(A) and wash your sins away,^(B) calling on his name.’^(C)

²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(A) he entered heaven itself,^(B) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^(C)