Baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

  Good morning. Noah – flood – eight people brought safely through the water: corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most importantly, this does not mean that baptism is a requirement in order to go to heaven. That requirement is fulfilled when we ask Jesus to come into our lives and make Him Lord. There is a denomination that believes that it is a requirement based on chapter 16 of Mark: he who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Notice that it did not say he who has believed but not been baptized shall be condemned. This verse does not say that it is a requirement to go to heaven; but it seems to say that baptism is more than the usual – an outward sign of an inward change. It says that it is an appeal to God for a good conscience. Perhaps it is the idea of a “clean“ conscience - “my old man did all those sins, and he’s dead. My conscience is clean”. Whatever the exact meaning – Father thank You that our conscience is clean – our old man who did all those sins is dead and buried.

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