“baptism … the answer of a good conscience toward God”
(1 Pet 3:21, NKJV)
A last few facets of the human conscience. 1 Pet 3:21 makes a very important statement about baptism – “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” One of the unmentioned aspects of the baptism of the believer is concerned with the conscience. Unfortunately this verse is often inaccurately interpreted, and thus the important implication of the baptism is lost in the confusion of conflicting arguments.
Let us thus state clearly – the baptism, whether of infants or adults, does not bring redemption. Only the adoption of the blood of Jesus has this power. That being born again includes baptism (John 3:5) is true, although there are believers who have not been baptized, but have indeed been saved (John 1:12). They do however only stay within the prototypical first dimension (=outer court) of the Tabernacle – they only reached the cross (=bronze altar) and have been cleansed of their sin (at the bronze washbasin/laver). They have not gone through the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit (=the curtain which provides access to the second dimension, the Holy Place).
What is thus to be deduced from 1 Pet 3:21’s statement that the baptism “saves”? The word “save” here does not mean salvation, but rather, as Strongs indicates – “to save, that is, deliver or protect … heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole”. Thayer includes “restore, rescue”.
But the baptism also acts as “the answer of good conscience toward God”. As the ISF simply defines it – “you’re asking God for a clear conscience”. The GW translation aptly states that “baptism is a request to God for a clear conscience”.
It is true that this request often turns into an interrogation, as the ASV and RV translations state, as the kingdom of darkness often focuses on attacking our conscience. Satan is not called “the adversary” (1 Pet 5:8) for nothing – he will use every opportunity to pervert the freedom which hallmarks our relationship with Jesus. But 1 John 3:20 (GW) teaches us this profound truth – “If our conscience condemns us, we know that God is greater than our conscience and that he knows everything.” (It is important to note that the elusive term “heart”, within the context of Scripture, denotes a meaning which is very closely aligned to that of the definition of “conscience”.)
With baptism you are given a clean slate, and your conscience must learn to function outside of the restrictive confines of Satan’s accusatory attack. The conscience must be cleansed from pollution, functioning as God intended, as a light in the often dark room of the soul. When Prov 20:27 states that: “The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart”, it is that which made you a living soul (refer again to the teaching of Day 235), closely linked with your conscience. Sela.
- Sela: If it did not occur with your baptism, ask God to cleanse your conscience.
- Read: Lev 21; Zech 3; Isa 61
- Memorise: Isa 61:1-4
- For a deeper understanding: Read pp 189-201 in Henry Cloud’s The secret things of God.
