baptism washed away sin. How large a part of nominal Christians rest all their hopes on the idea of the inherent efficacy of external rites ! v. 25, &c.
5. While it is one dangerous extreme to make religion consist in the ohservance of external ceremonies, it is another to undervalue them, when of divine appointment. Paul does not say that circumcision was useless ; he asserts its value. So, likewise, the Christian sacraments, baptism and the Lord's supper, are of the utmost importance, and to neglect or reject them is a great sin, v. 26, &c.
6. If the heart be right in the sight of God, it matters little what judgment men may form of us ; and, on the other hand, the approbation of men is a poor substitute for the favour of God, v. 29.