BAPTISM SERVICE APRIL 7, 2002 PM SERVICE
GOOD CONSCIENCE
I PETER 3: 13-22
INTRODUCTION: THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO ACHIEVE HAPPINESS ON THIS TERRESTRIAL BALL. AND THAT IS TO HAVE EITHER A CLEAR CONSCIENCE OR NONE AT ALL. --Ogden Nash.
Oswald Chamber of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST states: Always keep your life measured by the standards of Jesus. Bow your neck to His yoke alone, and to no other yoke whatever; and be careful to see that you never bind a yoke on others that is not placed by Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us out of the way of thinking that unless everyone sees as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one liberty, the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.
TRANSITION THOUGHT: This is the focus of what I want to speak on for a few minutes. Hear His word on a Good Conscience toward God.
THESIS SENTENCE: Baptism is the Pledge of a Good Conscience toward God!
I. A GOOD CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD IS FREEDOM FROM FEAR (13-17)
A. Fear comes to the-would be believer as well as to those who have trusted Christ as Lord.
1. Satan’s ploy is to render you helpless because of fear. And, he will use everyone he can to push you away from surrender to Christ. This is where we pick up the text, especially VERSES 13 AND 14. “WHO IS GOING TO HARM YOU IF YOU ARE EAGER TO DO GOOD? BUT EVEN IF YOU SHOULD SUFFER FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, YOU ARE BLESSED. DO NOT FEAR WHAT THEY FEAR; DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED.”
2. The interesting thing about this text is that Peter is showing off his scripture knowledge. He is add libbing Isaiah 8: 11-13. Hear the word of the Lord spoken through the Prophet Isaiah. “The Lord spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow they way of this people. He said: Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread...”
3. If you are here tonight and have not surrendered to Christ, it is because you have allowed Satan to cause you to fear and fear the wrong entity at that.
4. If you are a believer in Christ, Satan will not relent, he will put people in your way who, for a variety of reasons, will cause you to fear, to be afraid of, STANDING UP FOR CHRIST. PETER SAYS, “What big deal is it to suffer, even if you do, YOU ARE BLEST!!!!!” YOU ARE APPROVED OF BY GOD. YOU ARE IN THE COMPANY OF CHRIST.
B. The real issue here is where is your focal point. It must be on Christ and Christ alone. (VERSE 15)
1. “BUT IN YOUR HEARTS SET APART CHRIST AS LORD.”
2. “If he is not Lord of All, He will not be Lord at all.” He must become greater to you than your greatest fear.
ILLUSTRATION: CHRIST LORDSHIP OF. 715
C. When Christ is Lord, He is the answer to the blessed hope that is within us. In verse 15, Peter proclaims, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
ILLUSTRATION: THIS IS OLD, BUT STILL MAKES THE POINT: A BOY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL WAS ONCE ASKED, “WHAT HAS FOUR LEGS AND FEET, IS GRAY AND BROWN IN COLOR, LIKES TO CLIMB TREES AND EAT ACORNS?” THE LITTLE BOY LOOK UP AT HIS TEACHER WITH A PUZZLED LOOK ON HIS FACE AND SAID, WELL I GUESS THE ANSWER IS JESUS, BUT IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE A SQUIRREL TO ME.
1. Two things should happen here:
a. When we do not fear, people should be asking why!
b. When they ask, we should be ready to let them know.
2. There is also a formula as to how we are to describe this hope and our baptismal candidates as well as all believers need to hear this!!
a. ABUT DO THIS WITH: gentleness and respect!!
b. Keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
ILLUSTRATION: SLANDER ANSWERING SLANDER.
THE BOTTOM LINE THEORY HERE IS VERSE 17: “IT IS BETTER, IF IT IS GOD’S WILL, TO SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD THAN FOR DOING EVIL!! WE ARE TO PEOPLE WHO DO GOOD REGARDLESS OF THE OUT COME FOR WE HAVE MADE CHRIST THE LORD OF OUR LIVES.
II. A GOOD CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD IS HAVING CHRIST AS OUR EXAMPLE (18-20A)
A. CHRIST DIED FOR SINS ONCE FOR ALL.
1. This alone is shouting material. ARE YOU HERE CHURCH? Christ died for all sin already. He has wiped the slate clean for us, if we will receive Him.
2. Jesus was without sin, totally righteous, but he died for the unrighteous.
3. The net effect was to bring us to GOD. What we see here is that we were unable to have a good conscience because of sin, but Christ fixed all that for us and has rendered sin powerless so that we could receive God. He actually brings us to God.
B. His power over life and death are so enormous that he even transcended time and space and preached to those of the past who had rejected the love of God proclaimed through Noah.
1. Hear this terminology for those who reject God. They were in PRISON. Not a kind or friendly term.
2. How did they end up there, they DISOBEYED GOD!!
3. One final word here, God waited patiently while Noah built the Ark, to allow the people to respond to him. How much time has God given you??!!
III. A GOOD CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD IS BEING BAPTIZED (20B - 22)
A. Peter gives us an example of God’s saving work through water with the Ark of Noah.
1. God saved only the few, eight, because they did not disobey him.
2. He saved them through the water.
B. Finally, Peter explains that this water is a symbol of baptism that now saves those who believe in Christ, regardless of outside circumstances and fear.
1. Baptism is not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God (Verse 21).
2. Baptism does not save you by the mere action of water on the body, we are saved because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand -- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
C. Peter’s final remarks (verse 22) lead us back to the Lordship of Christ. He is Lord of all creation, he is Lord of all that exist and He will be your Lord is you will humbly bow before him.
CONCLUSION: WHERE DO YOU STAND BEFORE GOD? DO YOU HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE? HAVE YOU SET APRAT CHRIST AS LORD IN YOUR HEART? IF NOT, I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS LORD OF ALL IN YOUR LIFE. IF THIS IS YOUR DESIRE, PRAY THIS SIMPLE PRAYER WITH ME: JESUS, I HAVE SINNED AND HAVE NOT DONE WHAT IS PLEASING IN YOUR SITE. I HAVE A GUILTY CONSCIENCE. I ASK YOU TO FORGIVE ME NOW. I REPENT OF MY SIN AND NOW CHOOSE TO GO IN YOUR DIRECTION. THANK YOU FOR FORGIVING ME AND MAKING ME A CHILD OF GOD. THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY. AMEN!
Tonight we celebrate that these coming to be baptized have a good and clear conscience before God and Desire to make the same known before this congregation. At this time we invite all those who have surrendered to Christ to come forward for this public profession of faith. PLEASE FOLLOW ALONG IN YOUR BULLETIN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SERVICE.
