Another saying of His was this: "How are we to picture the Kingdom of God? or by what figure of speech shall we represent it?

After He had left the crowd and gone indoors, His disciples began to ask Him about this figure of speech.

"Ah, now you are using plain language," said His disciples, "and are uttering no figure of speech!

And this is a figure--for the time now present--answering to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, unable though they are to give complete freedom from sin to him who ministers.

And, corresponding to that figure, the water of baptism now saves you--not the washing off of material defilement, but the craving of a good conscience after God--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,