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,

 Conscience:

 

            Appeal to God for a good conscience:

 

1 Peter 3:21

21     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,

     

            Now this is not saying that we are going to go to Heaven because we’re baptized. We need to keep in mind that salvation is three-fold. Our spirits were “saved” when we were reborn. They’re not going to get any more “saved” than they are now. Our souls, however, take a lifetime for “salvation”. They are progressing towards what they should be. Our bodies won’t be “saved” till Jesus returns. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can walk in newness of life. That is the “salvation” of our souls. His dying paid for our sins, but we couldn’t live the Christian life if He had remained in the grave. It says that baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience. They way I like to think of it is that when the devil accuses us of something we did before we came to Christ, we can say, “My conscience is clear. I didn’t do it. That old man who is dead and buried did it”.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do not think that I have left you defenseless. I have given you an inward warning sign. It is your conscience. As you learn and walk in My Word, your conscience is strengthened in knowing what I desire for you. You have been given a good conscience; one that can discern between good and evil. Do not disregard its warnings. You train it as you obey My commandments so that it knows what is acceptable and what is not. It will correctly guide you as you stay in My Word. If you refuse to listen to My Word, it becomes dull and hard of hearing. It refuses to listen to My Word as you continually disregard what it tells you to do.”

 

            82. When I was baptized, I appealed to God for a good conscience, and He gave it to me. My conscience is clear concerning all the sins that I did before I was saved. The person that did those things is dead and buried!

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

 Something Better:

 

            Better promises:

 

Hebrews 8:6

6     But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

 

Hebrews 7:22

22     so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

     

            The Jews of the Old Testament had great promises. They had a grand covenant. However, we have an even better covenant based on superior guarantees. Those promises of the Old Testament had almost everything we could ever need. How much more those of the New? Since God assured them to us and He cannot lie, why don’t we start believing and set them in motion in our lives?

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do you not see all the wonderful things that I did for Israel? Do you not know what a wonderful covenant it was that I made with them? Do you not know that I only desired good things for them? If My covenant with them was so wonderful, how much better do you think the one I made with you is? It is so far beyond that one that you cannot imagine its greatness. You will see this covenant at work in you when you walk in My Word. They did not walk in My Word and so many never saw My blessings manifested in their lives. You will know the magnitude of My blessings when you walk in My Word and obey My words to you. That is what activates My blessings is you walking in My Word. It pleases Me when you do, and I respond accordingly.”

 

            81. The covenant that the Jews had with God was great, but the covenant that I have with Him is even better. That is because God made even better promises to me than He made to Moses and Israel.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father

 Do greater works:

 

John 14:12

12     “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

     

            This reiterates what was said in the earlier verse. We’re to do the works Jesus did and even greater ones. A lot of excuses and “interpretations” have been thought up over the years as to why this isn’t happening. Why make excuses and try to come up with some sort of “interpretation” of what He really meant by this statement? Why not believe that Jesus meant what He said? Of course these signs and works of Jesus won’t happen over night. We need to get into His Word to see what Scriptures apply to the circumstances we find ourselves in. We need to seek Him conscientiously in prayer about when and how to apply them. Let’s not settle for the “same old same old”. Let’s put His words into action.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "It’s not just the little things that I desire for My children to do in My name. It is great works of faith that I desire for them. I want them to manifest My presence and My glory wherever they go. I want them to do what My Son did when He was on the earth … to heal the sick, multiply the loaves, walk on water, and even raise the dead. I want the world to know that My people have My power within them, and that it is not some little power, but the same power as that in My Son.”

 

            80. I believe in Jesus, therefore, the works He did I will do also. I will even do greater works than those He did because He went to the Father.

“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

 Signs and works:

 

            Signs will follow:

 

Mark 16:17-18

17     “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

     18     they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

     

            What a superb thing to happen! These miraculous signs are going to accompany us who have believed. They include things to protect us from the attacks of the forces of the enemy, as well as to bring healing to those around us. Wherever we go, they go with us. We need to believe His Word that they will happen. We’ve heard for too long that we are defenseless against the devil and his allies; and that we are supposed to be sick. We’ve heard for too long that these signs are not for today. This verse says they follow those of us who have believed. That’s what God has waiting for us who believe.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My desire for My people is that they walk in the power of My Spirit; that they lay hands on the sick and see them healed. That will bring people to Me as they see that I only want the best for My children. It also helps you to know that I love you dearly as a child. I want you to see that I have intended good, and not evil for you. As you trust in Me, you shall see greater signs following you wherever you go. I want My children to be safe from all harm in every area of their lives. I want you to know that I am with you wherever you go to guide and protect you and to bring you safely to the place where I have sent you.”

           

            79. Wherever I go, the signs of a believer will follow me. I can even lay hands on the sick, especially those in my household, and they will recover.