Peter tells us how to initially obtain a good conscience in 1 Peter 3:21: "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."  What a wonderful day it was to be raised from the waters of baptism knowing God had washed our sins away completely!  We truly did stand before God with a good conscience.  We understood we no longer had guilt weighing us down.  God pronounced us clean!

But as we moved forward in our lives, we continued to find it impossible to stay clean.  We kept running into temptations we were too weak to overcome.  Our faith just wasn't what it should be.  Did we have to jump back into the water for another baptism?  No, Jesus was sacrificed once for all time, and His blood is so powerful it continues to cleanse as we move forward in our lives.  But it only cleanses as we continue in faith.  Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18, 19: "This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith."  There is a direct link between our faith and a good conscience.  By faith we walk in God's paths.  When we sin, by faith we reach out to God for forgiveness.  By faith we know we are forgiven when we continue to repent and keep walking in His righteousness.  By faith we know God's grace is working in our lives to cover our imperfections and our weaknesses.  By faith we can continue on with a good conscience!

There is no other joy like that of having a good conscience!

God bless,
Nathan