<p>3:21- see on Gal. 3:27; Heb. 10:17,22.</p><p><i>Which is also a true likeness of how baptism does now save you: not the washing away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God</i>- Can we know that we have the spirit of Jesus, and that we are living the eternal life, to the point we are confident that &ldquo;we will be there&rdquo;? John addresses this question head on. &ldquo;Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him&hellip; if our heart condemn us not, <em>then</em> have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight&rdquo; (1 Jn. 3:19-22). The answer of our conscience is therefore highly significant. Now living in societies as we do, based around shame and guilt, we can condemn ourselves more harshly than God does. Baptism is &ldquo;the answer (RVmg. &lsquo;appeal&rsquo;) of a good conscience toward God&rdquo; (1 Pet. 3:18). Note how the phrase &ldquo;toward God&rdquo; occurs in both passages. We need to reflect more deeply upon what baptism really meant. Just as Romans 6, the classic baptism chapter, is asking the Romans to think back and remember what their baptisms really did for them before God. There we were counted as being &lsquo;in Christ&rsquo;. God now looks upon us as if we are in Christ, covered with His righteousness. In the court of Divine justice, the fact we have been baptized and had our conscience cleansed is our appeal for justification. And it will be heard. We condemn ourselves for our failures, yes. But on the other hand, do we believe that we really are baptized into Christ, with all that means in terms of how God now sees us? Do we believe rather than merely know&hellip; the most basic elements and realities of our Christian faith? I believe we do underneath, but we need to think deeply about all this.</p><p><em>Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ- </em>The resurrection of Christ thus &quot;interrogates our conscience&quot; in all areas of life (1 Pet. 3:21 RVmg.). We can't be passive to it; it's not painless to believe.</p>