Conscience Care 101

CONSCIENCE CARE 101

1Timothy 1:5, 1:12, 1 Corinthians 8:9-12

1Timothy 1:13: “Even though I [Paul] was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.”

"The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul." John Calvin

There are many adjectives that describe one’s conscience. 1 Timothy describes it as "good." Paul tells the Corinthians that some are "weak." Other adjectives that describe a conscience in the Bible are: Approving, Accusatory, Blameless, Clear, Clean, Loving, Fruitful, Strong, Defiled.

Parents teach children proper actions. Kids learn quickly how to play with each other. The "first responder" to any action or decision we make is our divine gift of conscience. Red flags, bells ringing, feelings of dread are clues that our consciences are not pleased. He begs us to change course. Even the smallest kids get conscience-stricken. We learn right from wrong fast.

We live in a fallen world, and our consciences have been exposed to faulty programming. Every so often, they may need reprogramming. To fortify our inner compass, we depend on truth from God’s Word.

The Holy Spirit impacts conscience realignment, too.

Truth. Jesus is the Word made flesh, and He tells us that He’s the way, truth, and life. (John 1:1,14, 14:6). Maintaining a close relationship with our Savior keeps our consciences strong. Our conscience and the Holy Spirit combine to guide and protect us. The Spirit of Truth, or Holy Spirit, is who Jesus identified as the third person of the Holy Trinity. He entered our hearts when we accepted Jesus as our Savior. Jesus also called him "the Helper". The Spirit shows us the difference between righteousness and sin. He teaches us how to mature, and guides us into all truth. (John 14:17, 26; 16:8,13).

False teaching or sinful lives damage consciences. Some so severely that they do not work any more. These need to be reprogrammed to work properly for protection and guidance.

Paul was raised as a Pharisee. He knew Jewish law front and back. He hated Christians because his conscience was programmed for Jewish law, not the gospel. He was happy when Christians were persecuted and put to death. Jesus appeared to him, and Paul was transformed into a believer.(Acts 13:9-39).

Blindness reprogrammed Paul’s conscience into accepting Jesus’ gospel in place of Jewish law. Jesus will do that for people today. Reprogramming consciences is a delight. Angels celebrate the return of believers into the family of God.

Take Home Nugget

The Holy Spirit and your conscience is the awesome dynamic duo! Batman and Robin have nothing on the power living inside a child of God. We have confidence and boldness to face our fallen world without succumbing to it. But, the war is ongoing. Our fight is with unseen powers, and the devil constantly tries to trip us up. As one with the Lord, we stand victorious!

Wrong living tilts internal compass
So that it cannot find the path
To warn us of trespasses
That spurns our Savior’s wrath.

J.D. Griffith

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