1
00:00:00,174 --> 00:00:00,769
Good evening.

2
00:00:00,769 --> 00:00:03,274
Open your Bibles, if you will, to 1 Peter.

3
00:00:03,274 --> 00:00:10,396
We're down to right about the end of chapter three, the beginning of chapter four.

4
00:00:10,469 --> 00:00:12,033
Let's begin with a word of prayer.

5
00:00:12,033 --> 00:00:21,773
Our gracious Father in heaven, we bow before your throne, grateful for the day that you've
blessed us with, the day that you've given to us.

6
00:00:21,773 --> 00:00:33,413
We pray that we might be diligent to open your word, to encourage one another, to provoke
one another to love and the good works, and to serve one another and to serve you each and

7
00:00:33,413 --> 00:00:34,513
every day.

8
00:00:34,773 --> 00:00:38,343
Lord, we pray that you be with us as we go throughout.

9
00:00:38,343 --> 00:00:39,023
our days.

10
00:00:39,023 --> 00:00:48,338
We pray that we might strive to grow in wisdom and knowledge and understanding, and we
might grow in grace and mercy with you.

11
00:00:48,619 --> 00:00:52,581
We thank you for your Son who came and died on the cross for our sins.

12
00:00:52,875 --> 00:01:00,628
and pray for this nation, we pray for its leaders, we pray for the leaders locally and the
leaders nationally.

13
00:01:00,728 --> 00:01:11,813
We pray that they might make choices that are wise, that they might open your word and
seek your guidance and your will as they strive to deal with difficult issues.

14
00:01:11,893 --> 00:01:23,018
We pray for this congregation and we pray for those whom she knows that are lost and we
pray that we might reach those lost individuals with the gospel that they might

15
00:01:23,018 --> 00:01:29,800
willing and open hearts and attentive ears to be able to hear the Word and obey it.

16
00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:43,262
Lord, we pray that you be with us as we strive to evangelize this community, to reach the
lost, and bring the salvation and the hope that is found in your Son to Collierville.

17
00:01:43,303 --> 00:01:50,144
We pray that you be with us as we go throughout this evening, all as we ask and pray in
Jesus' name, amen.

18
00:01:50,395 --> 00:02:00,538
1 Peter chapter 3 verse 21, Peter writes, there is also an antitype which now saves us.

19
00:02:01,218 --> 00:02:02,518
Baptism.

20
00:02:04,039 --> 00:02:07,970
Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

21
00:02:07,970 --> 00:02:13,021
Now there's a reason why I left out the parenthetical statement in there.

22
00:02:13,262 --> 00:02:18,603
The parenthetical statement is there to help us understand what baptism is.

23
00:02:19,127 --> 00:02:29,752
and what baptism is about, what aspect of our lives it has application to and how it
affects us.

24
00:02:29,752 --> 00:02:45,559
But the statement that is connected to the example of Noah is there is also an anti-type
which now saves us baptism through

25
00:02:45,569 --> 00:02:49,144
the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

26
00:02:49,686 --> 00:02:54,525
There's a reason why we need to appreciate that statement.

27
00:02:54,525 --> 00:03:09,173
One aspect of that reason is because many individuals in the religious world believe that
the baptism of the new covenant is Holy Spirit baptism.

28
00:03:09,173 --> 00:03:16,897
For instance, when you turn over to Ephesians and you read in the book of Ephesians that
there's one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

29
00:03:17,108 --> 00:03:27,457
The Pentecostals would have you believe that the baptism that is the one baptism of the
new covenant isn't water baptism, it's baptism by the Holy Spirit.

30
00:03:27,457 --> 00:03:34,306
except the baptism of the Holy Spirit doesn't have anything to do with the resurrection of
Jesus Christ.

31
00:03:34,306 --> 00:03:44,980
So the baptism that saves is the baptism connected to the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
not the baptism connected to the Holy Spirit.

32
00:03:44,980 --> 00:03:58,498
So if we're going to then understand what baptism has to do with salvation, we are going
to have to understand what baptism is connected to the resurrection.

33
00:03:58,498 --> 00:04:13,166
Now, in addition to that, that's kind of one aspect of why this is so significant, then
there's another set of false doctrines from those who would hold that Paul

34
00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,631
preached a different gospel than Peter did.

35
00:04:18,292 --> 00:04:34,839
And that we are now saved under the gospel of Paul, which is a salvation by faith alone,
and we are not saved by the gospel that was preached to the Jews, which was preached by

36
00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:40,571
Peter on the day of Pentecost, which was a gospel of obedience through baptism.

37
00:04:40,571 --> 00:04:42,882
Okay?

38
00:04:43,358 --> 00:04:52,778
except Peter is writing here saying that the baptism which saves us is the one connected
to what?

39
00:04:52,778 --> 00:04:54,729
The resurrection of Jesus Christ.

40
00:04:54,729 --> 00:04:56,917
Turn over to Romans chapter 6.

41
00:04:56,917 --> 00:05:00,917
Romans chapter 6, Paul begins, what shall we say then?

42
00:05:01,277 --> 00:05:04,397
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

43
00:05:04,397 --> 00:05:05,737
Certainly not.

44
00:05:05,977 --> 00:05:13,357
How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

45
00:05:13,357 --> 00:05:25,168
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into his what?

46
00:05:25,168 --> 00:05:26,148
death.

47
00:05:26,970 --> 00:05:31,494
Therefore, we were buried with him through baptism.

48
00:05:31,494 --> 00:05:36,398
So he just said that the baptism is connected to his death.

49
00:05:36,658 --> 00:05:38,740
It's connected to his

50
00:05:38,768 --> 00:05:52,124
burial, he's not done, therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should

51
00:05:52,124 --> 00:05:53,445
walk in newness of life.

52
00:05:53,445 --> 00:06:03,488
For if we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall be in
the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this that our old man was crucified with him,

53
00:06:03,488 --> 00:06:08,722
and that the body of sin was done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin,
for he who

54
00:06:08,722 --> 00:06:11,464
died has been freed from sin.

55
00:06:12,125 --> 00:06:22,932
The salvation that Paul describes is one that comes where you were the dead man in your
sins.

56
00:06:23,533 --> 00:06:28,077
You died with Christ in that watery grave of baptism.

57
00:06:28,077 --> 00:06:37,495
You were buried with Christ in that watery grave of baptism and you were resurrected in
newness of life in His resurrection.

58
00:06:37,495 --> 00:06:46,301
So the baptism that Peter says saves you is the baptism through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ.

59
00:06:46,942 --> 00:06:57,480
And the baptism which Paul says frees you from your sins is the baptism through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.

60
00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:01,424
Now did Paul and Peter preach a different gospel or the same gospel?

61
00:07:01,424 --> 00:07:02,296
Same one.

62
00:07:02,296 --> 00:07:21,703
As you look at these two passages, Romans chapter 6 and 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 21, you
find two passages that are two of the absolute clearest and strongest arguments and texts

63
00:07:21,703 --> 00:07:28,407
to help a person understand that right now, today,

64
00:07:28,669 --> 00:07:41,684
just as in the days of Peter in the first century after the resurrection, after the old
law had been done away with, and after Jesus had come, died, and left the earth, that

65
00:07:41,684 --> 00:07:49,407
baptism is the means of salvation, obviously connected to...

66
00:07:50,623 --> 00:07:53,777
the answer of a good conscience towards God.

67
00:07:53,777 --> 00:07:55,769
Notice the rest of the passage.

68
00:07:55,970 --> 00:08:09,145
Therefore, there is also now an anti-type which now saves us, baptism, not the removal of
the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God.

69
00:08:09,486 --> 00:08:10,247
What?

70
00:08:10,247 --> 00:08:16,631
removal of the filth of the flesh is Peter considering in that statement?

71
00:08:16,631 --> 00:08:26,488
Is he talking about the fleshly desires and sins or is he talking about the dirt on a
person's body?

72
00:08:26,488 --> 00:08:28,793
All right, he's not.

73
00:08:28,793 --> 00:08:33,193
dealing with the flesh in the sense of fleshly desires and lusts.

74
00:08:33,193 --> 00:08:38,184
He's not saying, you know what, baptism doesn't save you from the fleshly desires and
lusts and sin.

75
00:08:38,184 --> 00:08:40,744
It just happens to be the act of a good conscience.

76
00:08:40,744 --> 00:08:41,324
No, no, no.

77
00:08:41,324 --> 00:08:42,275
That's not what he's saying.

78
00:08:42,275 --> 00:08:47,495
What he is saying is you're going to be buried in water.

79
00:08:47,815 --> 00:08:55,546
But you're not buried in water so that you can get washed and come out a clean, fleshly
human.

80
00:08:55,546 --> 00:09:09,560
You're being buried in water because it is the answer, it is the reply of a good
conscience toward God, someone who has heard the word of God, they have believed the word

81
00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:12,651
of God, and they're being obedient to the word of God.

82
00:09:12,651 --> 00:09:18,873
Can you hear, believe, and be obedient if your conscience is evil?

83
00:09:18,873 --> 00:09:19,464
No.

84
00:09:19,464 --> 00:09:21,356
The idea of an evil conscience.

85
00:09:21,356 --> 00:09:23,487
pervades Scripture.

86
00:09:23,947 --> 00:09:34,902
It is the idea of an individual, and we see it time and time again, who no matter what God
puts in front of them, they will not be obedient.

87
00:09:36,203 --> 00:09:37,515
Name some examples.

88
00:09:37,515 --> 00:09:38,926
Bunch in the Old Testament.

89
00:09:38,926 --> 00:09:40,607
Pharaoh, all right?

90
00:09:40,607 --> 00:09:42,007
Here's Pharaoh.

91
00:09:42,427 --> 00:09:47,549
He watches his magicians tell him, nobody could do this but God.

92
00:09:47,669 --> 00:09:49,350
This is God.

93
00:09:49,630 --> 00:09:51,190
This is not us.

94
00:09:51,911 --> 00:09:56,043
He watches his nation decimated.

95
00:09:56,043 --> 00:10:03,316
He watches his people come to him begging him to let these Israelites go.

96
00:10:03,316 --> 00:10:15,964
and all the way up until the death of his own son, he refuses and not only refuses but
actively opposes the demands of God.

97
00:10:15,964 --> 00:10:22,658
And the moment that the people actually leave, he reverses direction and goes to chase
them down.

98
00:10:22,658 --> 00:10:23,839
What is that?

99
00:10:23,839 --> 00:10:28,512
That, in biblical terms, is an evil conscience.

100
00:10:28,512 --> 00:10:46,210
That is someone who is so hardened by sin, by their own self-interest, their own pride,
their own desires, their own fleshly lust, that they simply will not hear and obey the

101
00:10:46,210 --> 00:10:47,011
Word of God.

102
00:10:47,011 --> 00:10:52,684
There's another example, one that's coming to my mind, and that's from the book of
Numbers, and it's Balaam.

103
00:10:52,684 --> 00:10:53,675
Here's Balaam.

104
00:10:53,675 --> 00:11:05,449
He's approached by Balak, king of Moab, and the king of Moab tells him, I'll give you
riches and great reward if you will come curse these Israelites for me.

105
00:11:05,449 --> 00:11:08,420
And Balaam very much would like to be rich.

106
00:11:08,420 --> 00:11:11,532
He very much would like to do this.

107
00:11:11,532 --> 00:11:18,305
But he tells him, I can't, I can only speak the words that come from God, and God had told
him, don't go.

108
00:11:18,305 --> 00:11:26,561
So then Balak sends another round of messengers, and this time he's beginning to go.

109
00:11:26,561 --> 00:11:34,688
What meets him as he is going to follow and do what these messengers would have him to do
in cursing Israel?

110
00:11:34,688 --> 00:11:35,909
An angel.

111
00:11:36,851 --> 00:11:42,689
There's an angel standing in the way preparing to kill Balaam.

112
00:11:42,689 --> 00:11:47,045
What saves Balaam from the execution by the angel?

113
00:11:47,045 --> 00:11:48,127
His donkey.

114
00:11:48,127 --> 00:11:50,331
What does Balaam then do to the donkey?

115
00:11:50,331 --> 00:11:52,074
He starts beating it.

116
00:11:52,074 --> 00:11:54,136
What does the donkey do to Balaam?

117
00:11:54,758 --> 00:11:56,492
He speaks to him.

118
00:11:56,492 --> 00:12:01,016
And through all of that, does Balaam turn around and go back home?

119
00:12:01,016 --> 00:12:01,527
Nope.

120
00:12:01,527 --> 00:12:13,985
So Balaam gets to the place where Balak is and he's standing over Israel that he can
observe them from where he's standing and Balak says, you go out and you curse this

121
00:12:13,985 --> 00:12:14,335
people.

122
00:12:14,335 --> 00:12:19,269
And Balaam says, now the only thing that's going to come out of my mouth is whatever the
Lord puts in my mouth.

123
00:12:19,269 --> 00:12:23,914
So he goes out with every intent and every desire to curse Israel.

124
00:12:24,095 --> 00:12:26,237
And out of his mouth comes what?

125
00:12:26,659 --> 00:12:27,600
A blessing.

126
00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:38,224
Do you think any good conscience individual who was a prophet of God would have turned
around and went home right there?

127
00:12:38,224 --> 00:12:39,214
Yeah.

128
00:12:40,035 --> 00:12:44,297
Well, Balak says, eh you bless them instead of cursing them.

129
00:12:44,297 --> 00:12:45,629
Let's try again.

130
00:12:45,629 --> 00:12:49,302
So again he takes Balaam out and says, curse the people.

131
00:12:49,302 --> 00:12:53,524
And Balaam says, the only thing that's going to come out of my mouth is whatever the Lord
puts in my mouth.

132
00:12:54,264 --> 00:12:59,548
So Balaam goes out at the request of Balak and again a blessing comes out of his mouth.

133
00:12:59,548 --> 00:13:05,472
Well, I mean, if we weren't convinced from the first time, surely he's convinced by the
second time, right?

134
00:13:05,472 --> 00:13:06,412
No.

135
00:13:07,673 --> 00:13:11,255
So, Balak, you've got one more try.

136
00:13:12,016 --> 00:13:12,847
Or else.

137
00:13:12,847 --> 00:13:16,191
And he takes Balaam, he says, now you go out and curse the people.

138
00:13:16,191 --> 00:13:22,448
Balaam goes out, having told Balak, the only thing that's gonna come out of my mouth is
whatever the Lord puts in my mouth.

139
00:13:22,448 --> 00:13:25,706
And the third time he blesses Israel.

140
00:13:25,706 --> 00:13:28,968
Bailack is quite upset.

141
00:13:28,968 --> 00:13:36,867
So Balaam says, I can't curse Israel, but I can tell you how to get them to curse
themselves.

142
00:13:36,867 --> 00:13:53,648
So Balaam teaches Balak how to convince and use the women from the Moabites to get the
Israelites to come down and commit fornication and idolatry with the Moabite women so that

143
00:13:53,648 --> 00:13:54,980
Israel will be cursed.

144
00:13:54,980 --> 00:13:59,937
And this is a prophet of God?

145
00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,477
Yes, with an evil conscience.

146
00:14:05,477 --> 00:14:19,813
So, when Peter says, you can line up example after example, you could take Ahab, how many
proofs did Ahab or Jezebel have that God was the Lord and that the gods that they served

147
00:14:19,813 --> 00:14:20,723
were nothing?

148
00:14:20,723 --> 00:14:22,384
How many examples did they have?

149
00:14:22,384 --> 00:14:23,864
How many did they need?

150
00:14:24,065 --> 00:14:25,185
Were any of them enough?

151
00:14:25,185 --> 00:14:25,716
No.

152
00:14:25,716 --> 00:14:28,097
So, you can line up these examples and what are they?

153
00:14:28,097 --> 00:14:30,249
They're examples of an evil conscience.

154
00:14:30,249 --> 00:14:36,414
a conscience that no matter what they witness they will not submit to God.

155
00:14:36,414 --> 00:14:41,348
And then you come to the New Testament and what is the picture of an evil conscience?

156
00:14:41,348 --> 00:14:42,809
Turn to Romans.

157
00:14:43,910 --> 00:14:45,790
Romans chapter 10.

158
00:14:45,790 --> 00:14:47,871
Sorry, Romans chapter 9.

159
00:14:47,871 --> 00:14:52,752
Romans chapter 9 verse 1, I tell the truth, I am not lying.

160
00:14:53,232 --> 00:15:06,206
My conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and
continual grief in my heart, for I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for

161
00:15:06,206 --> 00:15:12,058
my brethren, my countrymen, according to the flesh who are Israelites.

162
00:15:12,366 --> 00:15:23,209
to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service
of God, and the promises, of whom are the fathers, and from whom, according to the flesh,

163
00:15:23,209 --> 00:15:27,771
Christ came, who is overall the eternal blessed God.

164
00:15:27,771 --> 00:15:28,671
Amen.

165
00:15:28,671 --> 00:15:39,357
But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect, for they are not all Israel who
are of Israel.

166
00:15:39,357 --> 00:15:52,322
Paul says, am willing and God is a witness to this, that if I could be accursed from
Christ, if I could spend an eternity in hell so that my nation would be saved, I'd do it.

167
00:15:52,322 --> 00:15:58,283
And then he lists the blessings that his nation had experienced.

168
00:15:58,283 --> 00:16:03,965
He says, from whom pertain the adoption, the glory,

169
00:16:04,081 --> 00:16:16,229
the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, the promises, and the fathers
who were faithful.

170
00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:22,215
not to mention from whom the Messiah came.

171
00:16:22,267 --> 00:16:23,787
What's Paul saying?

172
00:16:23,787 --> 00:16:35,370
Like, if none of these things will convince my countrymen to hear the word of God, believe
it and obey it.

173
00:16:35,502 --> 00:16:37,154
then there's nothing that will.

174
00:16:37,154 --> 00:16:48,603
You go to chapter 10, he says, brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is
that they may be saved, for I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not

175
00:16:48,603 --> 00:17:03,426
according to knowledge, for they, being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

176
00:17:03,426 --> 00:17:04,255
home.

177
00:17:04,255 --> 00:17:10,250
will point out in statement after statement after statement.

178
00:17:10,250 --> 00:17:14,857
that there was a problem in Israel.

179
00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:24,864
Go back to Romans chapter two, because he tells you what the problem is.

180
00:17:24,864 --> 00:17:35,202
Chapter 2 verse 1, "'Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for
in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself.

181
00:17:35,202 --> 00:17:38,718
For you who judge, practice the same things.'"

182
00:17:38,718 --> 00:17:44,940
but we know that judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such
things.

183
00:17:44,940 --> 00:17:53,483
Or do you think, O man, you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same,
that you will escape the judgment of God?

184
00:17:53,483 --> 00:18:02,666
Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance and long suffering, not knowing
that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

185
00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:15,126
but in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for
yourselves wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who

186
00:18:15,126 --> 00:18:26,901
will render to each one, according to his deeds, eternal life to those by patient
continuance in doing good, seek for glory, honor, and immortality, but to those who are

187
00:18:26,901 --> 00:18:32,904
self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation,

188
00:18:32,904 --> 00:18:40,658
and tribulation and anguish, and on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and
also of the Greek.

189
00:18:40,658 --> 00:18:53,574
But glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good to the Jew first and also
to the Greek, for there is no partiality with God." Chapter 1, he condemns the Gentiles,

190
00:18:53,574 --> 00:18:54,754
the Greeks.

191
00:18:54,815 --> 00:18:56,955
He says, this is what you're guilty of.

192
00:18:56,955 --> 00:18:58,602
Chapter 2,

193
00:18:58,602 --> 00:19:08,635
as if Paul can picture Jews in the assembly shouting, yeah, yeah, look at those Gentiles,
they're so bad.

194
00:19:08,635 --> 00:19:17,301
He turns to the Jews and said, you judge those who do that which is wrong, and then you
turn around and you do the same thing.

195
00:19:17,301 --> 00:19:28,557
And he says it is because of their hard heart, their impenitent heart.

196
00:19:28,557 --> 00:19:29,367
What is that?

197
00:19:29,367 --> 00:19:31,118
An evil conscience.

198
00:19:31,118 --> 00:19:35,822
He says this is why you won't hear.

199
00:19:35,822 --> 00:19:38,553
This is why you refuse to obey.

200
00:19:38,553 --> 00:19:51,685
So baptism is the answer of a good conscience, true or false, a good conscience is one
that always obeys God.

201
00:19:51,685 --> 00:19:52,572
Hold on.

202
00:19:52,572 --> 00:19:56,430
Paul said, as he stood on trial,

203
00:19:56,430 --> 00:20:08,367
I attest before God, God is my witness, I have lived before God in a good conscience to
this day." Did Paul have a good conscience when he was persecuting and killing the

204
00:20:08,367 --> 00:20:09,377
Christians?

205
00:20:09,737 --> 00:20:11,198
Yes, he did.

206
00:20:11,198 --> 00:20:15,851
He did it because he believed he was doing what God would have him to do.

207
00:20:15,851 --> 00:20:18,972
He didn't do it out of self-serving self-righteousness.

208
00:20:19,012 --> 00:20:23,140
He did it because that's what he thought he was supposed to be doing.

209
00:20:23,140 --> 00:20:24,222
according to God.

210
00:20:24,222 --> 00:20:34,049
The problem with a good conscience is if it is trained to obey God the wrong way.

211
00:20:34,049 --> 00:20:39,642
Are there a lot of people with good consciences that have been taught to obey God the
wrong way?

212
00:20:39,642 --> 00:20:44,615
There's some devout Muslims with great consciences.

213
00:20:44,615 --> 00:20:47,209
Unfortunately, they've been taught to obey God the wrong way.

214
00:20:47,209 --> 00:20:59,446
There's some very sincere people who spent their entire life in denominations that have
spent their entire life being taught to obey God the wrong way.

215
00:20:59,446 --> 00:21:04,693
and they are sincere in their desire to please God.

216
00:21:04,935 --> 00:21:06,206
They're not like Israel.

217
00:21:06,206 --> 00:21:14,990
The problem is their conscience, while good, has been taught wrong.

218
00:21:14,990 --> 00:21:15,972
So what do they do?

219
00:21:15,972 --> 00:21:18,446
They do wrong, believing it's right.

220
00:21:18,446 --> 00:21:21,611
All right, now, yes.

221
00:21:21,611 --> 00:21:28,775
It is, but there's a caveat there that is important with what Paul says.

222
00:21:28,795 --> 00:21:40,841
Paul says, because Paul's point is, if Israel's only issue was their zealousness for God
and they lacked knowledge, when they were given knowledge, they would have changed.

223
00:21:41,182 --> 00:21:49,766
But out of their ignorance, they went about instead of submitting to God's righteousness
to establish their own.

224
00:21:51,383 --> 00:22:04,412
What Paul points out concerning Israel is that the transition from being willing to hear
God to rejecting God occurs when someone goes about to establish their own righteousness

225
00:22:04,412 --> 00:22:05,944
instead of submitting to his.

226
00:22:05,944 --> 00:22:19,973
Paul, in great contrast to Israel, when he had a good conscience but was doing wrong, when
faced by Christ on the road to Damascus, immediately said,

227
00:22:19,973 --> 00:22:24,564
What will you have me to do?

228
00:22:24,564 --> 00:22:33,995
But the nation of Israel, when faced by the Messiah, doing miracle after miracle after
miracle after miracle.

229
00:22:33,995 --> 00:22:35,957
rejected and crucified him.

230
00:22:35,957 --> 00:22:39,019
What's the difference between a good conscience and an evil conscience?

231
00:22:39,019 --> 00:22:40,279
That right there.

232
00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:48,895
One was ignorant and when they learned the truth and when it was apparent they were wrong,
they changed.

233
00:22:48,895 --> 00:23:00,102
And one was so embedded in their own self-righteousness that they would kill the righteous
person standing in front of

234
00:23:00,102 --> 00:23:03,526
to avoid admitting they were wrong.

235
00:23:03,526 --> 00:23:17,697
What did Pilate come out and say concerning Jesus after he had scourged him, after he had
questioned him, after he had sent him out to uh Herod and then Herod had sent him back?

236
00:23:17,697 --> 00:23:18,819
What did Pilate say?

237
00:23:18,819 --> 00:23:20,407
I find no fault in him.

238
00:23:20,407 --> 00:23:21,793
What did the crowd reply?

239
00:23:21,793 --> 00:23:24,939
Don't care if you find him guilty or not, kill him.

240
00:23:24,939 --> 00:23:26,361
That's an evil conscience.

241
00:23:26,361 --> 00:23:32,425
Now, Peter says, there is also an anti-type which now saves us, baptism.

242
00:23:32,605 --> 00:23:48,096
For those who maybe were not here last week or it's been long enough, he's saying Noah and
those eight souls were saved by the flood from a world

243
00:23:48,096 --> 00:23:49,558
that was bound up in sin.

244
00:23:49,558 --> 00:23:59,413
and they were saved not from the flood by the boat, they were saved by the flood from the
iniquity and the sin of their world.

245
00:23:59,413 --> 00:24:03,005
baptism now saves us.

246
00:24:03,005 --> 00:24:09,159
It is the answer of a good conscience toward God.

247
00:24:09,159 --> 00:24:15,852
It is the removal of sin, not physical filth and dirt.

248
00:24:15,852 --> 00:24:19,894
It is through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

249
00:24:20,054 --> 00:24:23,035
Verse 22 he says, who has gone into heaven

250
00:24:23,099 --> 00:24:31,302
and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made
subject to him."

251
00:24:31,302 --> 00:24:39,953
Who did Jesus say was under his authority as of Matthew chapter 28 verse 18?

252
00:24:39,953 --> 00:24:45,777
All All authority, all power has been given unto me in heaven and on earth.

253
00:24:46,858 --> 00:25:03,901
At the moment that Jesus is standing there, from that moment forward, Jesus has declared,
and Peter continues to assert, that there is no one outside of Jesus' authority.

254
00:25:03,901 --> 00:25:07,124
The Hebrew writer will provide us the one exception.

255
00:25:07,124 --> 00:25:11,392
Who does the Hebrew writer say is not under the authority of Christ?

256
00:25:11,392 --> 00:25:14,264
God the Father, okay?

257
00:25:16,006 --> 00:25:28,776
The Hebrew writer points out that it is obvious by the statement that God was going to
place all authority under Christ that the exception is the one who places the authority

258
00:25:28,776 --> 00:25:29,808
under Christ.

259
00:25:29,808 --> 00:25:35,843
And so Jesus is pictured here sitting at what position?

260
00:25:35,843 --> 00:25:37,424
The right hand.

261
00:25:37,488 --> 00:25:38,848
of God.

262
00:25:38,928 --> 00:25:48,348
Jesus is pictured in Acts chapter 8, sorry, Acts chapter 6 when Stephen is stoned.

263
00:25:48,448 --> 00:25:50,508
Acts chapter 7, I'll get it right eventually.

264
00:25:50,508 --> 00:25:57,819
Acts chapter 7 when Stephen is stoned and Stephen looks up and where is Jesus standing?

265
00:25:57,819 --> 00:26:01,119
The right hand of the throne of God.

266
00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:02,746
Turn to Hebrews chapter 12.

267
00:26:02,746 --> 00:26:14,482
Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1, "'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us.

268
00:26:14,743 --> 00:26:26,019
And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the
author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the

269
00:26:26,019 --> 00:26:31,694
cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand

270
00:26:31,694 --> 00:26:34,056
of the throne of God.

271
00:26:34,056 --> 00:26:43,389
For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, lest you become
weary and discouraged in your souls.

272
00:26:43,389 --> 00:26:49,821
You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

273
00:26:50,341 --> 00:26:55,817
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons

274
00:26:55,817 --> 00:27:08,798
My son, not despise the chasing of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by
Him, for whom the Lord loves, He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives.

275
00:27:08,798 --> 00:27:18,579
as the Hebrew writer says, you're surrounded by so many Old Testament examples of faithful
people.

276
00:27:18,579 --> 00:27:19,891
That's chapter 11.

277
00:27:19,891 --> 00:27:29,912
being surrounded by that great cloud of witnesses that you can be faithful, set aside the
sin and run the race.

278
00:27:29,912 --> 00:27:39,581
always looking to Jesus because he's the originator and finisher of our faith.

279
00:27:39,581 --> 00:27:41,873
That's what the word author in that text means.

280
00:27:41,873 --> 00:27:43,635
The author and finisher.

281
00:27:43,635 --> 00:27:47,078
He's the originator and the finisher.

282
00:27:47,078 --> 00:27:57,157
The book of Revelation says it this way, the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the
end, the first and the last.

283
00:27:57,157 --> 00:28:06,966
The Hebrew writer says, author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of

284
00:28:06,966 --> 00:28:08,207
throne of God.

285
00:28:08,668 --> 00:28:12,751
And then the Hebrew writer calls to mind, he says, consider him.

286
00:28:12,812 --> 00:28:14,313
Don't just look at him.

287
00:28:14,313 --> 00:28:15,774
Don't just follow him.

288
00:28:15,774 --> 00:28:20,797
Consider him who endured such hostility.

289
00:28:20,797 --> 00:28:23,541
All right, turn back over to Peter.

290
00:28:23,653 --> 00:28:33,930
1 Peter chapter 4 verse 1, therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm
yourselves also with the same mind.

291
00:28:33,930 --> 00:28:41,374
What's the Hebrew writer calling upon them to do as they consider Christ who endured such
hostility in the flesh?

292
00:28:41,374 --> 00:28:42,966
He says, you think like him.

293
00:28:42,966 --> 00:28:46,997
You apply his mind to you.

294
00:28:46,997 --> 00:28:57,737
He says, therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with
the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.

295
00:28:57,737 --> 00:28:59,538
Does Peter mean?

296
00:28:59,538 --> 00:29:04,721
that if you've suffered enough, your sins are no longer held against you.

297
00:29:04,721 --> 00:29:06,222
You know, there's people who believe that,

298
00:29:06,222 --> 00:29:12,666
There's people who go about in religious ceremonies flogging their own backs.

299
00:29:12,666 --> 00:29:18,174
as a sign of the fact that they too can suffer just the way Jesus did.

300
00:29:18,495 --> 00:29:21,310
Is that what Peter is trying to tell us to do?

301
00:29:21,310 --> 00:29:21,802
No.

302
00:29:21,802 --> 00:29:28,450
What is the suffering that Peter has been discussing from chapter one all the way to this
point?

303
00:29:28,450 --> 00:29:30,145
Suffering at the hands of who?

304
00:29:30,145 --> 00:29:37,989
Alright, suffering as a result of sin because you choose wrong, you do wrong, and
therefore you suffer for doing wrong.

305
00:29:37,989 --> 00:29:39,242
What other kind of suffering?

306
00:29:39,242 --> 00:29:41,481
I think I heard somebody say it, but I didn't catch what they said.

307
00:29:41,481 --> 00:29:42,221
All right?

308
00:29:42,221 --> 00:29:48,485
The suffering for men who are in opposition to God.

309
00:29:49,545 --> 00:30:07,507
Peter is trying to tell the church, when you suffer for doing good, not when you go around
and beat yourself for doing evil, you deserve that, but when you suffer for doing good,

310
00:30:07,687 --> 00:30:09,608
Christ is your example.

311
00:30:10,028 --> 00:30:12,072
Christ is the one you should look to.

312
00:30:12,072 --> 00:30:16,170
Christ is the one you should arm yourself with His mind.

313
00:30:16,170 --> 00:30:21,811
He says, who suffered in the flesh, he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.

314
00:30:21,811 --> 00:30:42,338
when a Christian does what is right, suffers for doing what is right, and does not allow
that suffering to convince him to change direction, but allows the suffering to reinforce

315
00:30:42,338 --> 00:30:46,072
that he will never change direction.

316
00:30:46,072 --> 00:30:51,897
He lives out the life exemplified by Christ and by the apostles.

317
00:30:51,897 --> 00:30:53,392
Turn back to the book of Acts.

318
00:30:53,392 --> 00:31:05,881
In Acts chapter 5, we read in verse 22, but when the officers came and did not find them
in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, Indeed, we found the prison shut

319
00:31:05,881 --> 00:31:12,265
securely and the guards standing outside before the doors, but when we opened them, we
found no one inside.

320
00:31:12,446 --> 00:31:20,731
Now, when the high priest, the captain of the temple and the chief priest heard these
things, they wondered what the outcome would be.

321
00:31:21,188 --> 00:31:28,899
So one came and told them, saying, Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in
the temple and teaching the people.

322
00:31:29,446 --> 00:31:37,143
Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared
the people, lest they should be stoned.

323
00:31:37,143 --> 00:31:47,702
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest
asked them, saying, Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name, and look,

324
00:31:47,702 --> 00:31:54,678
you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood on us?

325
00:31:55,539 --> 00:31:56,720
But Peter,

326
00:31:56,828 --> 00:32:05,350
And the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men.

327
00:32:05,350 --> 00:32:10,864
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging him on a tree.

328
00:32:11,145 --> 00:32:22,006
Him God has exalted to his right hand to be prince and savior, to give repentance to
Israel and forgiveness of sins, and we are his witnesses to these things.

329
00:32:22,006 --> 00:32:26,850
And so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.

330
00:32:26,850 --> 00:32:30,713
When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.

331
00:32:30,938 --> 00:32:41,305
But then one of the councils stood, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held
in respect by all the people and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little

332
00:32:41,305 --> 00:32:41,885
while.

333
00:32:41,885 --> 00:32:42,797
By the way...

334
00:32:42,797 --> 00:32:46,457
Who was the teacher of Saul of Tarsus?

335
00:32:47,784 --> 00:32:48,697
Gamaliel.

336
00:32:48,697 --> 00:32:57,746
We read, He said to them, men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do
regarding these things, these men.

337
00:32:57,765 --> 00:33:02,580
For some time ago, Thetios rose up, claiming to be somebody.

338
00:33:02,580 --> 00:33:05,143
A number of men, about four hundred, joined him.

339
00:33:05,143 --> 00:33:09,247
He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.

340
00:33:09,247 --> 00:33:15,933
After this man, Judas of Galilee, rose up in the days of the census and drew away many
people after him.

341
00:33:15,933 --> 00:33:19,116
He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.

342
00:33:19,116 --> 00:33:22,119
Now I say to you, keep away from these men.

343
00:33:22,179 --> 00:33:34,467
and let them alone for if this plan or this work is of men it will come to nothing but if
it is of God you cannot overthrow it lest you even be found to fight against God and they

344
00:33:34,467 --> 00:33:45,564
agreed with him and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them they commanded
that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go so they departed from the

345
00:33:45,564 --> 00:33:47,285
presence of the council

346
00:33:47,557 --> 00:33:54,010
rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

347
00:33:54,010 --> 00:34:08,294
And daily in the temple and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus
as Christ." You want to see an example of those who arm themselves with the mind of

348
00:34:08,294 --> 00:34:13,676
Christ, who endure the suffering like Christ endured?

349
00:34:14,066 --> 00:34:15,477
have ceased from sin?

350
00:34:15,477 --> 00:34:16,308
There it is.

351
00:34:16,308 --> 00:34:17,989
There's your example.

352
00:34:18,610 --> 00:34:27,036
They were unwilling to give sin, that would be refusing to obey God.

353
00:34:27,036 --> 00:34:30,778
They were unwilling to give it any moment of time in their lives.

354
00:34:31,268 --> 00:34:44,173
They were unwilling to give it any moment of hold over them so that they would even
withdraw just a little bit just to avoid the pain and the anguish and the suffering at the

355
00:34:44,173 --> 00:34:45,895
hands of the council.

356
00:34:45,895 --> 00:34:54,659
Rather, when they suffered, they didn't moan and groan and wonder, woe is us, and they
didn't become unfaithful.

357
00:34:54,900 --> 00:34:56,131
What did they do instead?

358
00:34:56,131 --> 00:34:57,102
They rejoiced.

359
00:34:57,102 --> 00:35:01,845
They rejoiced that they were worthy to share in the suffering of Christ.

360
00:35:01,845 --> 00:35:12,382
We read back in verse two that he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh
for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

361
00:35:12,382 --> 00:35:22,624
Peter is saying when you realize, when you adjust your thinking, when you position
yourself so as to understand

362
00:35:22,624 --> 00:35:29,672
that when you draw the fire of the world as a result of your faithfulness to God.

363
00:35:29,672 --> 00:35:30,635
You don't change.

364
00:35:30,635 --> 00:35:31,888
You don't turn around.

365
00:35:31,888 --> 00:35:33,362
You don't reconsider.

366
00:35:33,362 --> 00:35:38,143
You don't say, well, this is a good time to reevaluate our position.

367
00:35:38,143 --> 00:35:40,840
You rejoice and keep on.

368
00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:49,181
And then you examine your life and you go, where can I get sin out of my

369
00:35:49,181 --> 00:35:53,112
so that I all the more can do the will of God.

370
00:35:53,112 --> 00:36:09,889
Peter, before he's done, will speak concerning the fact that these tests of their
Christianity are those that are intended to produce a stronger Christian, not a destroyed

371
00:36:09,889 --> 00:36:10,609
one.

372
00:36:11,550 --> 00:36:17,712
A more perfect example of Christ, not a lesser one.

373
00:36:18,153 --> 00:36:22,146
And so they need to be focused on faithfulness.

374
00:36:22,146 --> 00:36:22,607
to God.

375
00:36:22,607 --> 00:36:25,625
Thank you for your attention and we'll be dismissed right there.