Thematic Bible: Renews and cleanses the soul

These people had disobeyed [Noah's preaching, See II Pet. 2:5] back when God's patience waited [for them to repent, See Gen. 6:3], during the days of Noah, when the ship was being constructed. It was by that means [i.e., the ship floating them to safety through the Flood waters] that a few persons, eight of them, were saved [from destruction] through water. This water prefigured immersion [into Christ], which now also saves you, not by removing dirt from the [physical] body, but [by serving] as an appeal [or, "pledge"] to God for a clear conscience through the raising of Jesus Christ from the dead.

He saved us, not because of any good deeds we ourselves had done, but because of His mercy. [He saved us] through the washing of new birth [Note: This refers to our immersion in water] and the renewing [work] of the Holy Spirit, Verse ConceptsAccepting ChristBaptism Of The Holy SpiritBreath Of GodBorn Again, Produced ByBeing Born AgainBehaviourSpiritual RenewalBirth, SpiritualBaptism, significance ofHoliness, Believers' Growth InTransformationOnce Saved Always SavedRegenerationRenewal, Of People Of GodRevival, Nature OfSacramentsSelf Righteousness, And The GospelSpiritualityWashingGod, Grace OfHoly Spirit, Activities OfAbundance, SpiritualNew Birth, Described AsNew Birth, The Means OfGod's MercyThe Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit,Cleansing The BodyThe Divinity Of The Holy SpiritBeing Cleansed From SinRenewedGod Saves From TroubleGod Showed MercyWorks Of The LawRighteousnessRenewalrebirthgraciousness