The Good Conscience

The Good Conscience

First time the word conscience is used according to the KJV Bible version is at John 8: 9

Joh 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst

Some people were convicted by their own conscience, while trying to accuse a woman of committing adultery, in the hope of expecting Jesus to judge her guilty. His response caused these people to be convicted by their conscience and thus they all left. It is interesting to note the 

order with which the people left, from the eldest to the youngest. Youngest meaning young but old enough to understand what adultery means without which there is no basis for accusation. All left based on the level of consciousness of sin, from the eldest because they had more knowledge of their sins as time passed by to the youngest. It is written that the law was a school master to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. The law, the covenant which these people operated under at the time showed them what was wrong versus what was right and then this made them know when they did something right or wrong. However, there was a palliative for them , the sacrifices of bulls and goats that could not make them perfect, as pertaining to the cleansing of their conscience. Therefore, the conscience being perfect towards God is very important in our walk with God. 

What Christ did for us was to ensure that by the sacrifice of his blood, our conscience is purged 

from dead works so to that we can serve the living God – (Service includes our relationship with 

him). 

Heb 9:9 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; 

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, 

imposed on them until the time of reformation. 

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more 

perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into 

the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 

Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, 

sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 

Heb 9:14 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? 

Heb 10:1 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 continally make the comers thereunto perfect.

Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

Hebrews 10: 9 - 10 Then said he, lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.

Hebrews 10: 14 - 15b For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof  the Holy Ghost also is a witness.

We have also received the Holy Ghost who now works hand in hand with our conscience – My conscience, ruled by the Holy Spirit, also assures me that I am not lying (Rom 9:1GNV)

The Holy Spirit, when we allow him, can rule over our conscience, hence we have no need of the law being a school master, but the Holy Spirit is now much more than a school master, a guide,leading us in the direction such that we are able to walk uprightly. One can consider it to be 

having what makes Jesus Christ holy also operating in us.

1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 

The commandment being instructions God has given us, just as he gave Adam in the bible an instruction and disobeying of which is called sin.

Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Kjv

Striving against sin = Striving against the disobeying God’s commands

Once a conscience convicts of wrong doing, it serves as a warning system that the path one is about to take is the wrong path. However, once the conscience convicts and one still disobeys, it

may lead to what is called a seared conscience which usually has a negative impact on our faith.

1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 

1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 

The above scripture shows actions that can cause having a seared conscience.

Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

We can conclude therefore that refusing the warning of a good conscience is sin and this may cause a seared conscience which has negative effect on One’s faith i.e unbelieving causing a loss of purity of mind and conscience.

Now, apart from the negative effects on purity that sin has, it may also expose One to the attack of the enemy.

God in His love towards us put in the new covenant that He would be merciful to our wrong doing and would never again remember our sins.

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Since we are enjoying this benefit of the Father in Heaven, which keeps us in purity, faith, love, good conscience, hope and so much more blessings, we should also prepare to be trained/disciplined by Him, so that we become good representatives of His Kingdom here on earth and thus others would have us as good ensamples even by just observing our lives.

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 

Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 

Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

Just as God promised King David that he would do for his Son.

2Sa 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

Therefore, as we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the perfecter of our faith, we also understand that he has the authority to chastise us as it pleases him and as it is good for us so we do not act with levity, and we have access to His Mercy that would allow us to purge our conscience from dead works that we may also continue to serve the living God and continue to grow in our relationship with him.

Thanks for reading.

Oladimeji Obidairo.