¹¹ In him you were also circumcised^(A) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh^[a](B) was put off when you were circumcised by^[b] Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism,^(C) in which you were also raised with him^(D) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^(E)

¹³ When you were dead in your sins^(F) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you^[c] alive^(G) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,^{(H) 14} having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,^(I) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.^{(J) 15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities,^(K) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them^(L) by the cross.^[d]

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.^{(A) 6} Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[a] gives birth to spirit.^(B)

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(A) for sins,^(B) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(C) He was put to death in the body^(D) but made alive in the Spirit.^{(E) 19} After being made alive,^[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(F)— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently^(G) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.^(H) In it only a few people, eight in all,^(I) were saved^(J) through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(K) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(L) toward God.^[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(M) 22} who has gone into heaven^(N) and is at God’s right hand^(O)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.^(P)