What is the conscience and what role does it play in our lives?
1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (NKJ) sincere behavior free from hidden agendas (selfish motives)
Conscience = Greek = suneidésis (soon-i’-day-sis) sýn, “together with” and eídō “to know, see.” Web def. An inner feeling or voice viewed as acting guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior.
Genesis 3:11a And God said, Who told you that you were naked? (NKJ)
Self-awareness came in. Before, they were more aware (more conscience) of God than themselves. Because of sin, guilt has entered into the mind and now they are sin-conscience instead of righteousness-conscience. Your conscience can either condemn or condone what you do.
Romans 2:15-16 Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another, 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (NKJ)
Titus 1:15-16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (NKJ)
A pure conscience is based on what you know. Adam and Eve ate from The Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin. (NKJ)
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits, and doctrines of demons; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (NKJ)
Matthew 7:1-2;16 Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you again. 16 You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (NKJ)
Our fruit is not there for our own enjoyment but for others. Loving someone is not so we can have goosebumps, but so they can have goosebumps. Likewise, our works are for the benefit of others and not for our own self-gratification.
Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (NKJ)
Why did the Lord cloth them? He wasn’t bothered by them being naked. It was for their sake!
Romans 14:21-23 It is good neither to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Have you faith? have it to yourself before God. Happy is he that condemns not himself in that thing which he allows. 23 And he that doubts is condemned if he eats, because he eats not of faith: for whatever is not of faith is sin. (NKJ)
Acts 24:16 And in this do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.
Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, (NKJ)
2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you. (NKJ)
1 Peter 3:21 The like figure unto which even baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (NKJ)
Hebrews 9:8-10 The Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in foods and drinks, and various washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Hebrews 10:1-2 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the ones approaching perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshipers once purged should have had no more consciousness of sins. (NKJ)
Our own guilt separates us from God causing us to try and hide our true intents and thereby we feel condemned.
1 John 3:20-23 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (NKJ)
Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJ)
John 3:17-18 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
