A Clear Conscience

Our obedience to God's Word and His commandments is very important. Our witness for Jesus involves us taking His priorities and making them our priorities. After being born-again in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit will lead a new convert to be a witness for Jesus and that begins usually in the baptismal waters. Some who receive Christ reject following through with baptism, and because of poor teaching, many denominations use baptism in the wrong ways. Some Baptist churches will lead people to get baptized so they can "join" their church, which minimizes the truth of what baptism really is. Don't get baptized because you are joining a Baptist church. Get baptized because it is the command of our Lord, and a very personal, yet public, witness of your faith.

Peter wrote these words in 1 Peter 3: ²¹ And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is an even more powerful baptism that takes place when we are led to study the Word of God. That baptism is immersing ourselves in the Word of God, and the effect of that immersion is a clear understanding of God's will for my life and an introduction into how God thinks and what He wants for my life. When I study God's Word, its truth powerfully washes over me, and I can see life more clearly, so I live with a clear mind and a clear focus. In a world that is confused and obsessed with evil, clarity is a must for those who call Jesus Savior and Lord.

Peter uses the word "conscience" in the above verses and the adjective is a "clean" conscience, which further illustrates a change in a person's life at their deepest level. Conscience (def) - the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character, together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good. Baptism is just that, "a feeling of obligation to do right or be good. The difference for the new convert is that any "goodness" comes only from God and His righteousness. That is the difference between the world's definition of goodness and God's reality of goodness through His righteousness. When we give our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit compels us to follow through with baptism and propels the new believer toward following more and more of God's plan for them. Jesus was baptized, and it began His ministry here on earth. And when a new convert is baptized, the same happens for them.

Baptism is not just necessary, but vital to the new convert, and they should be taught the true, important meaning behind the term and the act. Baptism does not complete the salvation experience, but it does complete the Lordship process, which is vital to the new convert's growth. When God moves, people are baptized. Acts 8:⁹ A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. ¹⁰ Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” ¹¹ They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. ¹² But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

When God moves, we see the faith walk of those new converts come alive, and they become witnesses for Jesus. This faith walk is birthed out of a clear conscience. How is your conscience? It will be much clearer if you follow ALL of God's Word. Do not hedge on God's commands.

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren