Conscience

"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." (I Timothy 1: 5 KJV)

"Conscience" is from the Greek word "syneidēsis" and means, according to Strong -

1) the consciousness of anything
2) the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other.

lit., "a knowing with" (sun, "with," oida, "to know"), i.e., "a co-knowledge (with oneself), the witness borne to one's conduct by conscience, that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, as that which is designed to govern our lives;" hence
(a) the sense of guiltiness before God. (Vine)

Every man has a "sense of right and wrong." All have what might be called a "inner ethical code" or "moral compass."

In our opening verse, Paul speaks of the "end" or "goal" of "the commandment" or "instruction," probably alluding to the commandment or "word of instruction" mentioned in the preceding verse, wherein Timothy was told to charge, command, or instruct some that they "teach no other doctrine." But, what is true of that command is true of all God's commands, of his entire law, which has at is end the creation and promotion of a heart that is full of love for God and righteousness and that is connected with a "good conscience" and with a "sincere (unfeigned or genuine) faith."

In the scriptures a "good conscience" is viewed as one of the most important things in the world and one that is connected with salvation. When one truly has a "good conscience" he will also have a "pure heart" and a "genuine faith" relationship with God in Christ.

"I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day." (II Timothy 1: 3 KJV)

If the conscience can be "pure," then it can also be impure, corrupt, and defiled. The conscience can be "clean" or it can be "unclean," and it can be either "good" or "evil."

But, what is the difference between a "good conscience" and an "evil conscience"?

"For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." (Romans 2: 14-16 KJV)

These verses reveal to us the apostolic definition of "conscience." The conscience is that entity in the heart (or mind) that allows a man to make judgments about the rightness or wrongness of their activities and behavior.

A man, through his conscience, will either "excuse" himself of blame or guilt, or else he will "accuse" himself, or will feel and acknowledge his guilt. Whether the conscience is "working properly" is the chief question. Is it accusing when it ought to accuse, and excusing when it ought to excuse? Or is it accusing when it ought to be excusing, and excusing when it ought to be accusing?

The above words of Paul also speak of the "testimony" or "witnessing" of the "conscience." This aspect of conscience is also referred to when Paul says:

"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 9: 1 KJV)

"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward." (II Corinthians 1: 12 KJV)

If a man have a "good conscience," he will have a conscience that is "working properly," that is accusing and excusing correctly. Some people "feel guilty" about things, in their consciences, that they have no reason to feel guilty about. In such cases a person's conscience is not functioning properly, for it accuses where it ought to excuse. On the other hand, other people do things that they feel no guilt about, or if they do, they quickly harden their hearts against belief that they have sinned, and so will "excuse" themselves, and such cases are examples of the conscience "excusing" when it ought to be "accusing."

The "testimony" or "witness" of the conscience can be believed or rejected. One can "listen to" or "heed" the testimony or he can disregard it. In evil consciences the testimony of valid guilt is not felt at all, or else it is not heeded. Truthful witness comes from a good and pure conscience, but a false witness comes from an "evil conscience."

The words of Paul also show that "conscience" stems from man's inner nature, from the fact that the law of God is engraven upon his nature. Within the rational faculty of man God has written his laws. When a child first lies, steals, or does some other immoral act, he first has a witness in himself that what he has done is wrong. This is because he has a "moral conscience" that was given him as part of his existential being.

"Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." (I Timothy 4: 2 KJV)

From the above words of Paul, we see that a "good conscience" can become corrupted and "deadened" (or "cauterized") so that the conscience no longer feels guilt for wrongdoing. Those who have such a conscience are appropriately called "amoral" and "sociopaths."

"Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck." (I Timothy 1: 19 KJV)

"Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." (Titus 1: 15 KJV)

"And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men." (Acts 24: 16 KJV)

"Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience." (I Timothy 3: 9 KJV)

These verses help define what is a "good conscience." A good conscience is a conscience that is not only working properly, but one that is pure and undefiled, one that is "void of offense towards God" and man.

"And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." (John 8: 9 KJV)

The consciences of these men, who were condemning a woman for sins of which they were themselves guilty, were working properly on this occasion, convicting and convincing them of their guilt. Their consciences "accused" them. What they needed further, however, was to be also convinced of their need of salvation in Christ, and that he was able to save them. They needed to have their consciences purified and put in proper working order. But, how it this done?

"For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins." (Hebrews 10: 2 KJV)

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 14 KJV)

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10: 22 KJV)

"Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience." (Hebrews 9: 9 KJV)

These verses speak of how the guilt that was experienced in the hearts, minds, and consciences of the ancient Israelites, was not "removed" by the offerings of animals, and by the blood of them. The blood of Christ, however, was able to do what the old typical sacrifices and animal blood could not do.

A sinner who's conscience convicts him of his condemned state before the Lord, and who's conscience "pricks" and "condemns" him before the law of God, is in need of the application of this blood to his conscience. This takes place when the heart, mind, and conscience is able, by faith, to receive this revelation. A "cleansed" or "purged" conscience is the result. A conscience that has not been made "good," and that has been "purified" and possessed by the word and Spirit of God.

"Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled...For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols." (I Corinthians 8: 7, 10 KJV)

"But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." (Vs. 12)

"Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake." (I Corinthians 10: 25 KJV)

"If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?" (I Corinthians 10: 27-29 KJV)

These verses contrast a "weak conscience" from a "strong conscience." We will have one or the other. The Greek word for "weak" means impotent or sickly, and denotes the consciences of non-Christians. These people have a conscience, but it is "defiled," and full of "guilt" and "shame," and one that is "impure," and "corrupted," and one that does not have proper "feelings" in his conscience. The conscience of the Christian is pure, for in it resides the word and Spirit of Christ, and has his blood applied to it. Therefore, it is no longer a sickly or deadened conscience, but a living and healthy one. The truth now abides uncorrupted in the mind and conscience and so the "testimony" and "witness" of it is correct and "works properly."

"But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (II Corinthians 4: 2 KJV)

"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." (II Corinthians 5: 11 KJV)

The heart, mind, and conscience is that which is appealed to when men are addressed in gospel and bible preaching. When this external witness is made to the conscience, it will either heed the witness and thus be transformed by the message, or else it will "excuse" this witness and thus remain defiled, deadened, impotent, and sickly.

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 3: 21 KJV)

A conscience that has been convicted and convinced by the word and Spirit of God is one that has lots of questions, and doubts regarding assurance of salvation. Christian baptism is that ordinance that gives to the convicted and convinced mind and conscience a peace and assurance of salvation. A Christian does not receive a good conscience in water baptism, but he does find in it, and in other Christian duties, the "answer" of his "good conscience."

"Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly." (Hebrews 13: 18 KJV)

"For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." (I Peter 2: 19 KJV)

"Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." (I Peter 3: 16 KJV)

"Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." (Romans 13: 5 KJV)

"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." (Acts 23: 1 KJV)

A Christian walks by his renewed will and purified conscience. Those who have a defiled and deadened conscience do wrong to "follow their consciences," for their consciences excuse when they should accuse, and vice versa. The conscience of the sinner has in it guilt for having offended God. Until that guilt is expunged and replaced with a sense of freedom from guilt, and condemnation, and until evidence of justification and reconciliation before God is realized, the conscience is still impotent, weak, sickly, and corrupted.

Friend, what is the state of your conscience? Will you come to Christ and have him rework your conscience, and to purify and fill it with his word and Spirit?