By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.

For since we have become one with him in dying as he did, in the same way we shall be one with him by being raised to life as he was.

For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death.

In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink.

You were baptized into union with Christ, and now you are clothed, so to speak, with the life of Christ himself.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.

God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior,

of the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; of the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment.

which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing off of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God.

Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth.

Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

And so, because he died, sin has no power over him; and now he lives his life in fellowship with God.

That is how it is with you, my friends. As far as the Law is concerned, you also have died because you are part of the body of Christ; and now you belong to him who was raised from death in order that we might be useful in the service of God.

But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised.

which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.

But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great,

In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world.

for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light. That is why it is said, "Wake up, sleeper, and rise from death, and Christ will shine on you."

Since Christ suffered physically, you too must strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking that he had; because whoever suffers physically is no longer involved with sin.

You have spent enough time in the past doing what the heathen like to do. Your lives were spent in indecency, lust, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the disgusting worship of idols.

The apostles said to the Lord, "Make our faith greater."

Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children.

They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father.

Jesus answered, "I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again."

"I am telling you the truth," replied Jesus, "that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

Do not be surprised because I tell you that you must all be born again.

When they arrived in Antioch, they gathered the people of the church together and told them about all that God had done with them and how he had opened the way for the Gentiles to believe.

and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength

For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.

I was made a servant of the gospel by God's special gift, which he gave me through the working of his power.

and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love,

For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.

Do not be deceived, my dear friends!

Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning.

But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner.

They were written also for us who are to be accepted as righteous, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from death.

God has raised from death our Lord Jesus, who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep as the result of his blood, by which the eternal covenant is sealed. May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will, and may he, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases him. And to Christ be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

(SEE 13:20)