Every Person Has A ConscienceEvery Person Has A Conscience

Though Not Everyone Knows What To Do With Though Not Everyone Knows What To Do With ItIt

Extremes: Misuse of ConscienceExtremes: Misuse of Conscience

“Let ConscienceBe Your Guide”

“Go Ahead – EvenThough Against

Conscience”

Word “Conscience”

• Not used in OT

• Used 29 Times in NT

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

A. A. To Know Right From WrongTo Know Right From Wrong

1. English Word – from Latin “to know wrong”1. English Word – from Latin “to know wrong”

2. “Faculty of recognizing the distinction 2. “Faculty of recognizing the distinction between between right and wrong coupled with a right and wrong coupled with a sense that one sense that one should act accordingly.. should act accordingly.. Conformity to one’s own Conformity to one’s own sense of right sense of right conduct” (AHD, p. 312).conduct” (AHD, p. 312).

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

A. A. To Know Right From WrongTo Know Right From Wrong

B. B. To Know Together WithTo Know Together With

1. A. T. Robertson: (comments on Acts 23:1) 1. A. T. Robertson: (comments on Acts 23:1) “joint “joint knowledge” – to know together.knowledge” – to know together.

2. Con (prefix) = together with; science = 2. Con (prefix) = together with; science = knowledge.knowledge.

3. Knowledge of what 3. Knowledge of what should doshould do and what you and what you dodo..

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

II. Not to be Our GuideII. Not to be Our Guide

II. Not to be Our GuideII. Not to be Our Guide

A. A. Can Sin With A Good ConscienceCan Sin With A Good Conscience

1. Acts 23:11. Acts 23:1

2. Compare: Acts 8:1-3; 9:12. Compare: Acts 8:1-3; 9:1

B. B. Can Be Defiled And EvilCan Be Defiled And Evil

1. Titus 1:151. Titus 1:15

2. Heb. 10:222. Heb. 10:22

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

II. Not to be Our GuideII. Not to be Our Guide

III. Role of the ConscienceIII. Role of the Conscience

III. Role of the ConscienceIII. Role of the Conscience

A. A. Be Convicted Of SinBe Convicted Of Sin

1. John 8:91. John 8:9

2. “My conscience is bothering me.”2. “My conscience is bothering me.”

B. B. Prevent SinPrevent Sin

1. Rom. 2:15 – guided by knowledge of word1. Rom. 2:15 – guided by knowledge of word

2. Keeps us within prescribed boundaries2. Keeps us within prescribed boundaries

(a) Acts 23:1(a) Acts 23:1(b) 1 Cor. 8:10(b) 1 Cor. 8:10

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

II. Not to be Our GuideII. Not to be Our Guide

III. Role of the ConscienceIII. Role of the Conscience

IV. Must be EducatedIV. Must be Educated

IV. Must be EducatedIV. Must be Educated

A. A. Conscience Is Based Upon Knowledge Conscience Is Based Upon Knowledge We We HaveHave

1. Rom. 2:151. Rom. 2:152. Conscience is only as good as knowledge we 2. Conscience is only as good as knowledge we

havehave

IV. Must be EducatedIV. Must be Educated

A. A. Conscience Is Based Upon Knowledge Conscience Is Based Upon Knowledge We We HaveHave

B. B. Lacking Of Knowledge – Conscience Will Lacking Of Knowledge – Conscience Will Not Not Allow Some ThingsAllow Some Things (1 Cor. 8:7) (1 Cor. 8:7)

C. C. Paul’s Conscience Allowed Him to Paul’s Conscience Allowed Him to Persecute Persecute Until He Gain Knowledge of Until He Gain Knowledge of ResurrectionResurrection

D. D. Thus, As Educate – Conscience Changes:Thus, As Educate – Conscience Changes:

1. Things used to do – bothers us now1. Things used to do – bothers us now2. Things thought wrong – are not2. Things thought wrong – are not

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

II. Not to be Our GuideII. Not to be Our Guide

III. Role of the ConscienceIII. Role of the Conscience

IV. Must be EducatedIV. Must be Educated

V. Weak Conscience – Not to be V. Weak Conscience – Not to be ViolatedViolated

V. Weak Conscience – V. Weak Conscience – Not to be ViolatedNot to be Violated

A. A. Weak Conscience = ConscientiousWeak Conscience = Conscientious

1. Rom. 14; 1 Cor. 81. Rom. 14; 1 Cor. 82. Faith is not weak – in fact – strong in faith2. Faith is not weak – in fact – strong in faith3. A point of knowledge – not have (1 Cor. 8:7)3. A point of knowledge – not have (1 Cor. 8:7)

4. Conscience will not allow him to do things 4. Conscience will not allow him to do things that is that is right.right.

- Eating meat sacrificed to idols (1 Cor 8:10-- Eating meat sacrificed to idols (1 Cor 8:10-12)12)

- Eating meat (Rom. 14)- Eating meat (Rom. 14)

V. Weak Conscience – V. Weak Conscience – Not to be ViolatedNot to be Violated

A. A. Weak Conscience = ConscientiousWeak Conscience = Conscientious

B. B. Conscience Must Not Be ViolatedConscience Must Not Be Violated

Rom 14:2323 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

II. Not to be Our GuideII. Not to be Our Guide

III. Role of the ConscienceIII. Role of the Conscience

IV. Must be EducatedIV. Must be Educated

V. Weak Conscience – Not to be V. Weak Conscience – Not to be ViolatedViolated

VI. Clear ConscienceVI. Clear Conscience

VI. Clear ConscienceVI. Clear Conscience

A. A. A Clear Conscience Is When Our A Clear Conscience Is When Our Knowledge Knowledge of Self & What We Ought to of Self & What We Ought to Do AgreeDo Agree

Rom. 8:16Rom. 8:16

The Spirit Gives Evidence - Rom. 8:16The Spirit Gives Evidence - Rom. 8:16

Tells WhatOne Must Do

Knows WhatHe Has Done

AgreeAgree

“Forgive”“I’ve

done that”

Then we can know we are right with God!

VI. Clear ConscienceVI. Clear Conscience

A. A. A Clear Conscience Is When Our A Clear Conscience Is When Our Knowledge Knowledge of Self & What We Ought to of Self & What We Ought to Do AgreeDo Agree

B. B. Cleared By the Sacrifice of ChristCleared By the Sacrifice of Christ

Heb. 9; 14; 10:2Heb. 9; 14; 10:2

C. C. When It Is ClearedWhen It Is Cleared

1. When obey the gospel1. When obey the gospel

2. 1 Pet. 3:21 – answer of good conscience2. 1 Pet. 3:21 – answer of good conscience

VI. Clear ConscienceVI. Clear Conscience

A. A. A Clear Conscience Is When Our A Clear Conscience Is When Our Knowledge Knowledge of Self & What We Ought to of Self & What We Ought to Do AgreeDo Agree

B. B. Cleared By the Sacrifice of ChristCleared By the Sacrifice of Christ

C. C. When It Is ClearedWhen It Is Cleared

D. D. Maintained By Godly LivingMaintained By Godly Living

1. 1 Tim. 1:19; 3:91. 1 Tim. 1:19; 3:9

2. 2 Tim. 1:32. 2 Tim. 1:3

3. 1 Pet. 3:163. 1 Pet. 3:16

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

II. Not to be Our GuideII. Not to be Our Guide

III. Role of the ConscienceIII. Role of the Conscience

IV. Must be EducatedIV. Must be Educated

V. Weak Conscience – Not to be V. Weak Conscience – Not to be ViolatedViolated

VI. Clear ConscienceVI. Clear Conscience

VII. Seared ConscienceVII. Seared Conscience

VII. Seared ConscienceVII. Seared Conscience

A. A. Progression / Stages:Progression / Stages:

1. Violate conscience (1 Cor. 8:7)1. Violate conscience (1 Cor. 8:7)

2. Becomes Defiled (Titus 1:15)2. Becomes Defiled (Titus 1:15)

3. Seared (1 Tim. 4:2)3. Seared (1 Tim. 4:2)

B. B. What Is A Seared Conscience?What Is A Seared Conscience?

1. Cannot be bothered or pricked any more1. Cannot be bothered or pricked any more

2. Happens with repeated violations (Heb. 3:7)2. Happens with repeated violations (Heb. 3:7)

I. What is the Conscience?I. What is the Conscience?

II. Not to be Our GuideII. Not to be Our Guide

III. Role of the ConscienceIII. Role of the Conscience

IV. Must be EducatedIV. Must be Educated

V. Weak Conscience – Not to be V. Weak Conscience – Not to be ViolatedViolated

VI. Clear ConscienceVI. Clear Conscience

VII. Seared ConscienceVII. Seared Conscience