God told Noah to build an ark and get ready for the earth to flood. He told the inhabitants what was going to happen and only eight people, Noah and his his family, took him at his word and those who didn’t listen to him perished. God used the flood to wipe out the wickedness that the people of the earth practiced. [Gen 6:5] And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. God seeing that sin was rampant, the only thing he could do was wipe it out. He did it with water and out of that total destruction eight people were saved: [Gen 6:8] But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. [Gen 6:22] Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Throughout the scriptures is found the teaching of a good conscience before God. The word conscience means the view one holds of his or herself in relation to God and testifies to the fact one is following God by what he or she does, an effect or result of faith. Noah out of a good conscience was saved by water from the sin that enveloped the earth and escaped the wrath of God visited upon the wicked. In the same manner water destroyed the sin on the earth.

The question becomes, does water by itself save? No, not by itself is the answer. Now water is used for a symbol of both cleansing of the penitent and the destruction of sin at the same time. Just as Noah listened to God and did what he instructed, it is important to listen to God for his way of salvation now. As Paul told Timothy about the conduct of deacons [1 Tim 3:9] Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. A pure conscience knowing that one has and is doing what God commands.

Many argue that water baptism as it is sometimes called is optional and some say it isn’t necessary at all. Can anyone in good conscience prove that to be true when verse after verse teaches otherwise? Jesus was baptized. [Mat 3:13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [Mat 3:14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [Mat 3:15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. [Mat 3:16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: [Mat 3:17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Jesus said he and John had to fulfill all righteousness and God said he was well pleased.

In every case of conversion presented, baptism is the first step of faith in Christ. Peter said when he preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost; [Acts 2:38] Then 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. Peter did so because he had a good conscience before God. Paul wrote: [Gal 3:27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. He wrote in Romans: [Rom 6:3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [Rom 6:4] 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. In Acts we find the following said to Ananias: [Acts 22:16] And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Sins aren’t washed away individually until baptism no matter how much one believes just as sins weren’t washed away until the flood.  

In Peter we find a most telling series of verses that refute the baptism isn’t necessary false doctrine and brings us back to Noah and his conscience toward God. 1 Pet 3:20] Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. [1 Pet 3:21] The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: [1 Pet 3:22] Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.  Eight were saved by water and now baptism saves us as Peter wrote since baptism is linked to the resurrection of Christ and is the answer of a good conscience toward God.

Those who say they are following God in good conscience, and yet haven’t been baptized (buried with him), are only fooling themselves. John says it best: [1 John 2:3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [1 John 2:4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  Is your conscience toward God today the same as Noah and the others in the Bible?  Only you can answer that question.

© 07-01-2006 DEC

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