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CONSCIENCE

A fascinating topic that caught my attention recently

Defined in a dictionary as … the inborn sense of right and wrong:
the sense of what is right and wrong that governs our thoughts and actions, urging us to do right rather than wrong

Conscience was defined by Alexander Cruden some 278 years ago in his Concordance as … “that faculty within us which decides as to the moral quality of our thoughts, words, and acts. It gives consciousness of the good of one's conduct or motives, or causes feelings of remorse at evil doing. A conscience can be educated, or trained to recognise good and evil, but its action is involuntary. A good conscience is one which has no feeling of reproach against oneself, does not accuse itself of wilful wrong.”

The first mention of the word conscience in scripture quite surprisingly comes in John 8:9 when the scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery, and thought that they had Jesus trapped between Law and mercy. But Jesus never answered them a word, instead he wrote on the ground, and let their conscience decide the outcome. (For my thoughts on what he wrote refer www.eyesalve.co.nz / blog entitled IT IS WRITTEN )
The scribes and Pharisees were steeped in the Law and its consequences, but Jesus silently appealed to their consciences only – he activated the involuntary response of their consciences to save the very life of this woman, and to powerfully demonstrate the new covenant of GRACE that he came to bring.
What a startling exhibition of the power of an awakened conscience even within the masters of legalism and the Law !

But this also brings this surprising fact to light …. that this is the very first mention of the word conscience within scripture ! Now every mortal born on this planet obviously has a conscience, but why no mention of the actual word in the entire Old Testament?
My partial answer to this omission is that under Law one simply had to 'follow the rules' Deeds were judged. Ones conscience was subjugated to the written Law and statutes.  (When Jesus appeared, the 10 commandments had grown to over 600 rules and regulations to govern all personal and social conduct)
When a wrong was committed or discovered, then an appropriate sacrifice was offered. But this only accounts for the period of Mosaic Law from 1491 BC to Jesus death.   Before this was what has been called the 'Dispensation of Conscience' from Adams fall and eviction from Eden. With their discovery of good and evil – conscience awoke !
“With expulsion from Eden, man was responsible to do all known good, to abstain from all known evil, and to approach God through sacrifice” comments Scofield.
(This period continued to the judgment of the Flood. Then followed Human Government, Promise and Law until Calvary)

So a conscience is inborn with each and every one of us, and is involuntary.
And, also surprisingly, a conscience can be educated or trained … WOW
how many people recognise and appreciate that particular fact ?

Paul even while a Pharisee, had followed his conscience which he called good Acts 23:1
This practiced effort resulted in 'a conscience void of offence toward God and men' Acts 24:16 It didn't accuse him, and which resulted in being called a 'good conscience'
also Romans 9:1 1 Timothy 1;5, 19, 2 Timothy 3:19 Hebrews 13:18

Then, there are also those with what is called a 'weak conscience' 2 Corinthians 8:7, 10-13 to the extent of defilement ! These are those with food and dietary preferences, particularly for religious reasons.
And those who have liberty in diet must needs consider those who have such food preferences, and see that they don't offend them with their liberty.
(Am I reading this right ? How often is this done by believers in their contacts with other cultures and beliefs ? Consideration and tolerance to not offend others with different beliefs in matters of diet is advocated)

And there are those who have an evil conscience Hebrews 10:22, 9:14
which is the product of self righteousness, legalism, and our own 'good works'
all of which are at direct odds with the work of Calvary and Jesus redemptive sacrifice
Right-eous-ness = right standing with God is imputed, a gift from God through faith alone, not by any amount of religious self-works.

And those whose conscience is defiled Titus 1:15 referring to those who even profess that they know God, but yet are hardened in unbelief as to righteousness coming only through faith in Jesus sacrifice

And conscience can be 'seared as with a hot iron ' 1 Timothy 4:2
described as the effect of hypocrisy and lying which is the curse of the clergy and Christendom throughout all ages to this very day, and which has so offended countless observers of professing believers who do such. Hypocrisy is called the leaven of the Pharisees Luke 12:1 that we are so warned to beware of.

But, the effect of a soft or good conscience is what can best be described as “continual repentance“ the “wisdom from above” that James refers to James 3:17, 18 in action

S O R R Y ... should be one of our most used words when dealing with others

Some one said that there are 6 words that will keep a marriage together ...

    I   WAS  WRONG    I  AM  S O R R Y

and so it is in our walk with the Lord … our 'spiritual marriage' of the bride and groom!

A soft conscience is not a liability, but our greatest and most precious asset !

so, the kernel of this topic is simply this …

    to practice keeping our conscience C L E A R and GOOD

    before God and one another

    it's so vital