A Clear Conscience

Paul’s testimony in Acts 24:16 was that he “always strived to have a conscience void of offense before God and men.”  What a statement!  What a goal!  We should all desire to have a clear conscience before God and men.

What we must realize is that there is a difference between having a “clear conscience” before God and having a “seared conscience.”  Although they are similar in that individuals with a clear conscience and a seared conscience both go through life without “feelings” of guilt, yet they don’t both go through life without “genuine guilt”.  I Timothy 4:2 speaks of men who “depart from the faith”, give heed to deception and wrong doctrine, “speak lies”, and have a “conscience seared with a hot iron.”  Individuals with a “seared conscience” don’t feel guilty but indeed they are guilty.   An individual gets a seared conscience when they fail to heed to their own God given ideas of right and wrong, they refuse to listen to principles of Scripture, and though at one point they may have “felt” guilty doing a certain practice such as lying they ignored that “feeling” so long that there is no longer any “feeling” of guilt at all.  This is a dangerous position to find oneself in, that one can sin without any “feeling” of guilt.

One who has a “clear conscience” has been brought under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.  In John 16:9, Jesus told us that He would send the Holy Spirit to convict of “sin, righteousness, and judgment”.  This conviction takes place as one submits to the Word of God.  It should take place in our personal Bible study times as well as in the public teaching of the Word of God whether in corporate worship or small group.  That is why we as pastors have such a responsibility to Expository preaching and teaching.  (Expository teaching works to expose the meaning <God’s Message> of the original author to the original recipients then apply it to our present day lives.)

One then with a clear conscience before God must confess their sin (I John 1:9) as the Holy Spirit through the Word of God brings conviction.  They must then choose to daily moment by moment strive to follow their conscience and the Holy Spirit as they apply Biblical principles to their everyday lives.

Both those with a “clear conscience” and a “seared conscience” have dealt with their “feelings” of guilt.

The individual with a “seared conscience” has ignored the “feelings” until they are no more leaving the guilt and the broken relationship with God.

The individual with a “clear conscience” confesses that sin asking forgiveness believing that the blood of Jesus Christ is the only sufficient remedy for it.  Then not only confessing the sin but they also repent – they forsake the sin, so not only are the “feelings” of guilt gone but the guilt itself is gone too!

My prayer is that all reading this may be able to say I have a “clear conscience” before God, my guilt is gone because my sin has been dealt with not ignored!  If you have any questions more information can be found at www.fbclittletonil.org .

Lessons from Paul's life - faithfulness, pure conscience

Following Paul’s conversion he served selflessly proclaiming God’s word and the gospel of Jesus Christ in many places.  God blessed, and many churches were formed because of his ministry.

As he faced trial in Rome he understood that he might soon become a martyr for Jesus Christ.  These are the words he wrote to Timothy, “⁶For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.  ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6–8) (NKJV).  Paul was faithful throughout his entire ministry. 

It is sad to see so many who claim to be believers who don’t finish or don’t finish strong.  They get taken captive by the philosophy of the world because they did not heed Paul’s warning. (Col 2:8)  It is our prayer that “faithfulness” like Paul’s would be one of the traits of all.

Not only was Paul faithful, but he had faith.  Even as he potentially faced death this is what he told Timothy, “2 Timothy 4:16–18 (NKJV) ¹⁶At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

His faith revealed confidence in the Lord’s presence and preservation of him.  Though he might see physical death he was certain of life in the kingdom.  Do our life’s anxieties or lack of them reveal the same faith that Paul had?  Indeed, all who have true faith will find themselves being sanctified and becoming more and more faithful with time. 

Further testimony of Paul both to Timothy and the Corinthians revealed his constant pure conscience.  To Timothy he said, “II Tim. 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience…;” and to the Corinthians in II Cor. 1:12 he stated, “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.”

Paul’s life had been such that he did not violate his conscience before God. Do we have the same clear conscience before God?