The Appeal of a Good Conscience
Sunday’s Verses:
From 1 Peter 3:21-22 ESV
“Baptism, which corresponds to this (Noah’s Ark where only 8 were saved), 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, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”
You don’t know how many Christians believe that only people who do good in this life will get to heaven. It is common for us to look at the lives we live, desire to do good, and believe that God credits this goodness to our account, making it easier for us to get into heaven. However, our faith tells us something dramatically different: we are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ. And how do we get this faith? Baptism.
Saint Peter clarifies that Baptism is fundamentally “an appeal to God for a good conscience.” It is the act where God places His name on us, saving us from eternal death and darkness, and teaches us to quiet our consciences with the assurance of what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross.
At the core of this faithful belief is a daily return to repentance, reminding us that in our Baptism, our Father has given us His Holy Spirit to be with us, guide us all our days, and assures us that by solely believing in the sacrifice of Jesus, we receive the promise of heaven and eternal life. Rather than relying on ourselves to save us, Saint Peter reminds us that God has done our saving on our behalf. There is no reliance on doing enough good in this life to get us salvation because there is never enough good we could do.
Be confident in Jesus. He paid our sins on the cross, and through our Baptism into Him, we believe and have eternal life.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, I pray for a good conscience this day, focused on my Baptism and what You have given me through it, namely the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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