Regarding Lesson 8 of your Bible Study Course, how can water baptism be for the forgiveness of sins, as water cannot wash away sins? It is the blood of Jesus Christ that washes away sin.

Baptism is really the burying of the old man as we symbolically die to the way we were, coming up out of the water as a symbolic resurrection of the new man.

You are right in stating that it requires the application of the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ to make the forgiveness of our sins possible. This is confirmed in RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 1:5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
See All...: "From Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (emphasis added throughout).

RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 7:14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
See All... further speaks of "the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

The New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. abounds in scriptural passages affirming the majestic importance of Christ's sacrifice to cover our sins. Yet Ananias instructed Paul, after God had miraculously struck him down on the road to Damascus, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
See All...).

As you have written, and as Paul explains in Romans 6:2-6 [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

See All..., water baptism symbolizes the death of the old sinful, selfish man. But in a figurative sense it also pictures the washing away of our sins.

Notice Hebrews 10:22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
See All...: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." These two washings, the blood and the water, work beautifully together. They are not in opposition. They are not mutually exclusive. They are inclusive and in harmony—perfectly complementing one another.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 [25] Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
[26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
[27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

See All... also helps us to understand that cleansing with water can symbolize washing away sins. God says: "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."

Still, only Christ's perfect sacrifice provides the spiritual mechanism for God to forgive our sins upon repentance and faith (see Acts 20:21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
See All...; Romans 3:25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
See All...). Although water baptism does not of and by itself forgive our transgressions of God's law, it remains one of the required steps in the salvation process.

The apostle Peter firmly stated, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
See All...). The second GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . account clearly affirms, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
See All...).

In Ephesians 5:25-27 [25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
[26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
[27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

See All... Paul wrote that "Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word... not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." God's Word itself plays its own role in keeping us spiritually clean.

Water cleanses and was therefore used figuratively and symbolically by Jesus Christ and His apostles to help illustrate the true conversion process. They taught spiritual principles by means of natural processes.

Several free booklets explain all this in further detail: The Road to Eternal Life , Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion and You Can Have Living Faith .