Water and Baptism in Biblical Passages

1 Let us inquire whether the Lord also took care to foreshadow the water and the cross. Now about the water, it is written regarding Israel, how they would not accept the baptism that brings forgiveness of sins, but would build for themselves. 2 For the prophet says: ‘Be appalled, heaven, and let the earth shudder even more at this, for this people has committed two evils: they abandoned Me, the fountain of life, and they dug for themselves a pit of death.’ 3 ‘Is My holy mountain of Sinai a desolate rock? For you will be like baby birds flapping about when deprived of the nest.’ 4 And again the prophet says: ‘I will go before you and level mountains; I will smash gates of bronze and break iron bars, and I will give you hidden, dark, unseen treasures, so that they may know that I am the Lord God.’ 5 And: ‘You will live in a lofty cave of a strong rock.’ And: ‘His water will be certain; you will see the King in glory, and your soul will dwell on the fear of the Lord.’ 6 And again He says in another prophet: ‘And the land of Jacob was praised above the entire earth.’ He means this: He glorifies the vessel of His Spirit. 7 Next, what does He say? ‘And there was a river flowing from the right side, and beautiful trees grew from it; and whoever eats from them will live forever.’ 8 He says this because we go down into the water laden with sins and impurity, and we come up from it bearing fruit in our hearts, placing our fear and hope in Jesus through the Spirit. ‘And whoever eats of these will live forever.’ He means: ‘Whoever,’ He says, ‘hears and believes these things spoken will live forever.’ 9 And again another prophet says: ‘And the land of Jacob was praised above the whole earth.’ He means He glorifies the vessel of His Spirit. 10 What does He say next? ‘There was a river flowing from the right side, and beautiful trees were rising from it, and whoever eats from them will live forever.’⁠a 11 This He says because those who descend into the water, carrying sins and defilement, come up with fruit in their hearts, trusting in Jesus through the Spirit. And whoever eats of these will live forever. He means: whoever hears and believes these messages will live forever.