The Appeal of a Good Conscience

21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. 1 Peter 3:21-22. Peter says that the physical act of baptism does not save a person, but like eight souls were saved through water in the ark, baptism saves in the same way. If it is not the act what is it?

I believe verse 22 tells us the secret. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father in heaven with angels and authorities and powers in subjection to him obeying what He says.

He’s the one who commanded baptism for the remission of sins in Mark 16:15-16. Therefore, baptism is the appeal commanded by Jesus who is now Lord of lords and King of kings. When a person obeys Jesus in his baptism. God responds with salvation for that person’s good conscience in his or her obedience.

Ananias said to Saul who was to become Paul, “Why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). Ananias was speaking of Jesus who commanded that men be baptized as an appeal for salvation. It is calling on Jesus to save us because He said do it and a Christian has become subject to the Lordship of Jesus.

I was watching the movie God in Not Dead staring Kevin Sorbo. At the end of the movie the man Kevin Sorbo was playing made a very denominational appeal to God for salvation outside of the obedient act of baptism. It was an appeal that was without a good conscience. It was an appeal without the Lordship of Jesus. It was a different kind of appeal, not a consciences one.

Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. An appeal to the Father which ignores Jesus’ instructions is an appeal without the aid of Jesus’ salvation. Jesus is not the Lord of those who ignore His instructions. Peter insisted that repentance accompany Christ’s appeal through baptism. Repentance is letting God have His way, and ceasing to have life based on selfish ways.

God help us all strive for a good conscience in all our dealings with our Lord Jesus Christ!

…Milt

In the gospel of John there are three times Jesus says, "By this men shall know that you are my disciples..." The three scriptures are John 8:31, 13:35 and 15:8.

These are marks or traits in a person which identify that person as a disciple of Jesus Christ. They are-

Abiding in Christ's Word.

John 8:31-32 reads, "Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Christians may not always fully understand Christ's word, but if they remain faithful to it they will. It is Christ's promise, but the identifying mark is abiding in the word.

Loving others as Christ loved us. John 13:35 reads, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." The new commandment written in verse 34 is "that you love one another: just as I have loved you!"

Christians distinguish themselves by their love for God which is manifest in their love for one another. It is another identifying mark of Christianity.

Bearing fruit.

John 15:8 reads, "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." If you read the context of this statement you will find that Jesus is talking about abiding in his love for us which is the same as God's love.

This fellowship of love bears fruit. That fruit is the fruit of God's love. It is righteousness. It is harmony. It is unity. It is peace. It is an identifying mark of true followers of Jesus Christ God's Son.

God bless you as the disciples of Jesus who abide within the confines of God's word-the truth, and who love others the way Jesus loved us, and who are being changed into the image of Jesus bearing the fruit of God's love as a proof of your New Life in Jesus.

.... Milt