Definition
The Conscience is defined as: “the sense of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good” – Merriam Webster Dictionary.
In the Bible, the conscience is a second knowledge that a man has of the quality of his acts, along with his knowledge of the acts themselves. Paul wrote, “in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them” (Romans 2:15).
Paul used the word conscience (suneidēsis) more than 20 times in his epistles. Men have this ability which can be overscrupulous (1 Corinthians 10:25) or “seared” by abuse (1 Timothy 4:2). And it can be enlightened by more revelation of the truth (1 Corinthians 8:7).
A Clean Conscience
When we confess our sins in repentance to God, the Lord forgives us. For He promised, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Faithfulness is one of the Lord’s outstanding qualities (1 Corinthians 1:9; 10:13). Confessed sins are borne by the Lamb of God (John 1:29). The gracious love of God accepts the repentant sinner, the confessed sin is taken away from him, and the sinner stands before the Lord covered with the perfect life of Christ (Colossians 3:3, 9, 10).
The believer gets baptized as a sign of washing of his sins (Mark 16:16). This initial process of instant forgiveness of past sins is called “justification” (Romans 5:1). And the believer receives it by faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). The second process is sanctification which is a life long (Romans 6:19) growth and victory over sin through faith (2 Thessalonians 2:13). And the Lord has made provision whereby every sin may be successfully resisted and overcome (Romans 8:1–4). This new life requires careful watching unto prayer to prevent the old habits from coming into life again and to reeducate the conscience of God’s will (Romans 6:11–13; 1 Corinthians 9:27).
Peace With God
After the cleansing, the believer will have a clean conscience. The apostle Paul wrote, “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).
When the believer accepts Christ as his personal Savior, submits to Father’s good will, repents of his sins, receives forgiveness, gets baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, he is given the peace of God. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). The believer’s daily friendship with God (through study of the Word and prayer) will ultimately bring him this comforting gift of peace: “the LORD will bless his people with peace” (Psalm 29:11b).
To maintain this peace, Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4,5). As the believer abides in Christ, the fruit of the spirit which is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith” will be manifested in his life (Galatians 5:22).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
