Living With a Clear Conscience

Two words that can be used incorrectly in a sentence are the words conscious and conscience.  These words are very different and not interchangeable. The definition of the word conscience is “an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior.”  Scripture says much about having a God-honoring conscience.  The following are thoughts taken from Scripture about a clear conscience:

1.     Keep a Clear Conscience:  “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

2.     Keep a Clear Conscience Before God and Man:  “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” (Acts 24:16)

3.     Our Conscience Can Be Seared:  “Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”  (1 Timothy 4:2)

4.     A Clear Conscience Allows a Restful Heart:  “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.” (Proverbs 3:21-26)

5.     Christ Can Give Us a Clear Conscience:  “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14)

6.     A Guilty Conscience Can Be Cleansed by God:  “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”  (Hebrews 10:22)