YOUR CONSCIENCE WON'T LIE TO YOU & IF LEFT UNCHECKED IT WILL TELL YOUR HIDDEN TRUTH TO OTHERS TOO!

                   

YOUR CONSCIENCE WON'T LIE TO "YOU"

“…“Having a good (CLEAN) conscience. …” (1 Peter 3:16 KJV).

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  Conscience is that deep and secret part of the mind that houses the values that guide your behavior, your standard of ethics, or your OWN, personal perspective of what YOU believe is right or wrong. Conscience is that part of the mind that informs you what the moral character of human behavior should or shouldn’t be.

Conscience is common to all men: good or bad, right or wrong; righteous or unrighteous; ethical or unethical; informed or uninformed. Like all other parts of the mind, the conscience has been corrupted by the fall. “…To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, BOTH THEIR MINDS AND CONSCIENCES ARE CORRUPTED…” (Titus 1:15 NIV). “…Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, WHOSE CONSCIENCES HAVE BEEN SEARED as with a hot iron…” (1 Timothy 4:2 NIV). 

Ultimately conscience, whether you are aware of it or not, POWERFULLY GUIDES your behavior. Your conscience will NEVER lie to you, even if you choose to LIE to others. However, if left unchecked conscience will REVEAL your HIDDEN TRUTH to others too!

Therefore, it is a conscience that needs to be renewed and refined in Christ. “…So I strive always to keep my CONSCIENCE clear before God and man…” (Acts 24:16 NIV). “…I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my CONSCIENCE confirms it through the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 9:1 NIV). “…The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good CONSCIENCE and a sincere faith…” (1 Timothy 1:5 NIV). “…holding on to faith and a good CONSCIENCE, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith…” (1 Timothy 1:19 NIV).  “…and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear CONSCIENCE toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 3:21 NIV).

 Conscience describes an aspect of the mind that bears witness to the ethical standards and values you personally recognize, adhere to, and apply to your daily life. Conscience is that part of that mind that guides ethical behavior and can induce feelings of guilt when those personal, ethical standards or values are violated. On the other hand, conscience is that part of the mind that guides ethical conformity and can induce feelings of pleasure when those ethical standards or values are met. “…I strive always to keep my CONSCIENCE clear before God and man…” (Acts 24:16 NIV).

The term “heart” may be the closest explanation for conscience. In the Old Testament, conscience was not an autonomous concept based of you and your ethical standards, but about you and God’s ethical standards. Thus there is not a lot of word study from Old Testament language on conscience.

Conscience is your personal, internal standard of right or wrong usually developed and shaped from childhood. Thus conscience is those internal ethics which is a monitor for your actions and attitudes and supports right conduct. “…And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all GOOD CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD until this day…” (Acts 23:1 KJV).  “…Holding the mystery of the faith in a PURE CONSCIENCE…” (1 Timothy 3:9 KJV).  “…I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with PURE CONSCIENCE, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day…” (2 Timothy 1:3 KJV).  “…And herein do I exercise myself, to have always A CONSCIENCE VOID TO OFFENCE toward God, and toward men….” (Acts 24:16 KJV).

However, the conscience can be corrupted.

“…To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, BOTH THEIR MINDS AND CONSCIENCES ARE CORRUPTED…” (Titus 1:15 NIV).

Therefore the conscience was made to function as an honorable, dependable, internal criterion for grounded ethics of right and wrong. “…I will put my laws (ethics) into their mind, and write them in their hearts…” (Hebrews 8:10 KJV). "…I will put my law (ethics) in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…” (Jeremiah 31:33 NIV). “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).

Apostle Paul’s informs the readers how his conscience - filled with the indwelling biblical ethics of right and wrong through Jesus Christ - is made “clear.” “…How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, PURGE YOUR CONSCIENCE from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14 KJV).

“…Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an EVIL CONSCIENCE, and our bodies washed with pure water…” (Hebrews 10:22 KJV).

“…Pray for us: for we trust we have A GOOD CONSCIENCE, in all things willing to live honestly…” (Hebrews 13:18 KJV).

 “…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 comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had NO MORE CONSCIENCE OF SINS….” (Hebrews 10:1-2 KJV).

A renewed conscience monitors your conduct before God and others. “…For this is thankworthy, if a man for CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD endure grief, suffering wrongfully…” (1 Peter 2:19 KJV). “…The like figure whereunto even baptism doth 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...” (1 Peter 3:21 KJV).  ^“..Having a GOOD CONSCIENCE; that, whereas THEY speak evil of you, as of evildoers, THEY may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ…” (1 Peter 3:16 KJV).

“…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (which includes the conscience...” (Romans 12:2 KJV). Like everything else is new, so is the conscience new. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).

A new conscience is given by God and becomes the new internal criterion for monitoring and guiding ethical (biblical) conduct. “…How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, PURGE YOUR CONSCIENCE from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14 KJV). “…Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an EVIL CONSCIENCE…” (Hebrews 10:22 KJV).

God gives you a new conscience, but he, not you, monitors the new conscience and enables ethical conduct through the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me…” (1 Corinthians 4:4 NLT). AND “…it is God which worketh in you both TO WILL and TO DO of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).

Moral conscience is something you can witness in both believers and non-believers. There are times when non-believers appear to adhere to their internal moral values more than believers do.

Non-believers seem consistent with their moral consciences and appear to stand by them without the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Believers, who have the indwelling Holy Spirit in regard to true, holy moral values, resist or reject the conviction of their new conscience.

Romans 2:14-15 demonstrates this comparison between the Gentiles (who represent non-believers) and Jews (who represent believers). “… (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their CONSCIENCES also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)…” (Romans 2:14-15 NIV).

There are times when non-believers demonstrate a more consistent moral conscience, whatever it is, than believers who have the indwelling Holy Spirit. "…I will put my law (ethics) in [your]… minds and write it on [your]… hearts. I will be [your]…God, and [you]… will be my people…” (Jeremiah 31:33 NIV). “…it is God which worketh in you both TO WILL and TO DO of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).

Conscience is not meant to judge your conduct, dictate your conduct, or force your conduct; it is only a witness to your own choice of an internalized moral, value system. Conscience did not create the content of your internal, moral value system of right and wrong; YOU DID and conscience serves as a witness only. “…Which shew 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…” (Romans 2:15 KJV). 

“…I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, MY CONSCIENCE ALSO BEARING ME WITNESS in the Holy Ghost…” (Romans 9:1 KJV). 

“…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 had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward…” (2 Corinthians 1:12 KJV).  “…But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth COMMENDING OURSELVES TO EVERY MAN’S CONSCIENCE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD…” (2 Corinthians 4:2 KJV). “…Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are MADE MANIFEST IN YOUR CONSCIENCE…” (2 Corinthians 5:11 KJV).

Conscience serves as a witness and thus a servant to your established internal value system. Conscience has no authority or rights, but it aids in monitoring your established moral/biblical value system. However, conscience is different from person to person.

Every person’s conscience is not a strong, established moral system with liberal permissions on one’s conduct, but may be weak or has limited permissions on one’s conduct.

In 1 Corinthians we find an example of different types of conscience and their impact on conduct. “…Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall…” (1 Corinthians 8 NIV).

One person’s conscience confirmed his eating the food and the other person’s conscience made him experience guilt. How would you address this conflict of consciences between these two believers? You address it with the love of God and whatever is done; let it be done for God’s glory. “…I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.  No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”  If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience?  If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved…” (1 Corinthians 10:23-33 NLT).

It doesn’t matter if one person’s conscience has been made more free in Christ than someone else’s’ because God’s love is supreme. It doesn’t matter whether the less liberal conscience is right or wrong, but you do not want to cause anyone to stumble. “…Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. …So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: …not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. …So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall…” (1 Corinthians 8 NIV).

Your freedom in Christ and liberal conscience takes the path of love. You lovingly choose to work with the weak or least liberal consciences until they also come into the same unity of freedom in Christ. “…AND HE GAVE SOME, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and TEACHERS; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: TILL WE ALL COME IN THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:10-13 KJV). “…UNTIL Christ be formed in you…” (Galatians 4:19 KJV).

Conscience, for the believer, is the indwelling Spirit. “…Jesus Christ is in you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…Christ in you, …” (Colossians 1:27 KJV “…until Christ be formed in you…” (Galatians 4:19 KJV). The indwelling Spirit is the NEW established, internal value system. "…I will put my law (ethics) in [your]… minds and write it on [your]… hearts. I will be [your]…God, and [you]… will be my people…” (Jeremiah 31:33 NIV). And enables you sustain the value system. “…it is God which worketh in you both TO WILL and TO DO of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).

“…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). If you are “…to be conformed to the image of his Son…” you need the mind of Christ (ROMANS 8:29 KJV). A renewed mind produces a renewed conscience.

A renewed conscience becomes the witness for a new set of moral/biblical criterion imparted by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The new set of moral/biblical criterion imparted by the indwelling Holy Spirit renews the mind.  "…I will put my law (ethics) in [your]… MINDS and write it on [your]… HEARTS (conscience). I will be [your]…God, and [you]… will be my people…” (Jeremiah 31:33 NIV).  RENEWING YOUR CONSCIENCE.