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 I
have never had a fellow tell me this, but if one could honestly
contend that to be baptized would violate his conscience toward
God -- that he believed God would consider him a sinner for
doing such a thing -- then I certainly would not insist that he
be baptized. I would insist that he restudy God's word on the
subject, for his conscience needs resetting.
It
is possible that to be baptized would violate someone's
conscience toward man. Parental ties and religious
background may be such as to make one feel such action would be
against his mother's wishes, etc. But Jesus warned that we must
be prepared to "love him more" than parents. (see
Matt. 10:34-39)
We
need to understand that our conscience is a valuable moral
governor; a bell that rings, a light that flashes, in keeping
with our understanding of what is right and wrong.
But it is not the thing that determines -- it is not the
standard -- of truth. If we have an erroneous understanding of
any matter, the "set" of our conscience on that
subject will be inaccurate. We will be pricked, or the
conscience will allow, uncoordinated with the truth of the
matter.
In
1 Pet. 3:15 the NAS reads, "But sanctify Christ as Lord in
your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone
who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet
with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so
that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile
your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is
better, if God should will it so, that you
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suffer for doing what is right rather than
for doing what is wrong."
Good
behavior must be "in Christ." It is God's will that
determines the right course, and a "good conscience" toward
God, the real goal.
Now,
in 1 Pet. 3:21 we read "And 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,--" The act of baptism, per se, does not
save. Christ is our Saviour! But Christ is Saviour of those who
put their trust in Him -- who believe in Him so fully that they
set their conscience, and act, in keeping with His will --
"unto all them that obey Him." (Heb. 5:9)
All
who give serious consideration to Christ's will, know that He
commands baptism. (Mk. 16:16; Acts 10:48) Knowing this, one can
not have a good conscience toward God while refusing to do His
bidding. It is that simple.
Then
baptism is not a "church doctrine" -- it is not
"for conscience toward the church" that men should be
baptized. It is not a "church ordinance" as is so
often asserted. It is a thing done in response to a divine
mandate, and for those purposes which the Lord has determined.
(Acts 2:38) It pictures death to sin, burial with Christ,
resurrection to a new life. (Rom. 6:3-f) It is not so surprising
that such a thing as this should mark one's becoming a
Christian, and entrance into the kingdom. (Jn. 3:3, 5)
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