The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.^{(A) 14} But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

¹⁶ When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens^(B) suddenly opened for him,^[a] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.^{(C) 17} And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”^(D)

³ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,^[a](A) he cannot see the kingdom of God.”^(B)

⁴ “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born^(C) of water and the Spirit,^(D) he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ Whatever is born of the flesh^(E) is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit^(F) is spirit.

The New Life in Christ

6 What should we say then?^(A) Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?^{(B) 2} Absolutely not!^(C) How can we who died to sin^(D) still live in it? ³ Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized^(E) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?^{(F) 4} Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death,^(G) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead^(H) by the glory of the Father,^(I) so we too may walk in newness^[a] of life.^{(J) 5} For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death,^(K) we will certainly also be^[b] in the likeness of his resurrection. ⁶ For we know that our old self^[c](L) was crucified with him^(M) so that the body ruled by sin^[d] might be rendered powerless^(N) so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, ⁷ since a person who has died^(O) is freed^[e] from sin. ⁸ Now if we died with Christ,^(P) we believe that we will also live with him, ⁹ because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead,^(Q) will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.^{(R) 10} For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. ¹¹ So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin^(S) and alive to God in Christ Jesus.^[f]

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered^(A) for sins once for all,^(B) the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.^(C) He was put to death in the flesh^[a](D) but made alive by the Spirit,^{[b] 19} in which^[c] he also went and made proclamation to the spirits^(E) in prison ²⁰ who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah^(F) while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people^[d](G)—were saved through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body,^(H) but the pledge^[e] of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(I) 22} who has gone into heaven^(J) and is at the right hand of God^(K) with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.^(L)

Sons and Heirs

²⁷ For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.^(A)