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A Blameless Conscience

A Blameless Conscience. Acts 24:16. A Blameless Conscience. Acts 24:16 In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before [without offense toward, NKJ] God and before men. Rom 14:22

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A Blameless Conscience

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  1. A Blameless Conscience Acts 24:16

  2. A Blameless Conscience • Acts 24:16 In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before [without offense toward, NKJ] God and before men. • Rom 14:22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

  3. What is Conscience? • The Greek “suneidesis” carries the same meaning as the English word, “conscience” • Thayer "The soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former, and shunning the latter, commending the one, condemning the other.“ • Rom. 2:15 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,

  4. What is Conscience? • Though the word "conscience" is used only once in the O.T. (I Sam 24) , the presence of it is affirmed in many places. • Gen. 3:7,10 - when Adam and Eve hid themselves. • 2 Sam. 24:10 - David's heart smote him. ("heart condemned him" NKJV)

  5. IS THE CONSCIENCE A GUIDE? • Common sayings: • "Just let your conscience be your guide“ • "As long as one follows his conscience he is safe" • "As long as one is sincere he is all right.“

  6. THE CONSCIENCE: A JUDGE • The conscience that is within is perhaps better thought of as a judge, rather than as the guide • There are good judges and there are bad judges • The conscience may be described as good (I Tim 1:5) or it may be described as bad (i.e., defiled, Titus 1:15)

  7. THE CONSCIENCE: A GOOD JUDGE OR A BAD JUDGE AS A JUDGE? • The fact that one's conscience is kind, or that one is sincere, does not necessarily make for right. • A pagan believing in the existence of idol gods has a good conscience and is very sincere in worshiping idols. Does this make him right? Acts 17:22-23 • Many who call themselves Christian claim to feel closer (and thus pleasing) to God by being in nature rather than meeting in some formal assembly to worship—their conscience is clear. Heb 10:23-25

  8. Question: How Good a Judge is the Conscience?? • Our consciences tell us what is right or wrong in relation to our standard. • How we are taught, the environment we place ourselves in, might lead us to believe error with a clear conscience. (1 Peter 1:14) • Practicing error with a sincere but ignorant conscience is still error • You can be sincerely wrong.

  9. Question: How Good a Judge is One’s Conscience?? • “Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves,” but • The conscience must have the proper standard, the Word of God. Jn 17:17

  10. Question: How Good a Judge is One’s Conscience?? • Bottom line • It is not enough to be sincere with respect to conscience. • One must also have the right standard: the Word of God.

  11. How Does One Arrives At A Good Conscience Based On The Correct Standard? • In the present age one may appeal to God for a good conscience. 1 Pet. 3:21 • 1 Peter 3:21 • 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

  12. How Does One Maintain A Good Conscience Based On The Correct Standard? • After baptism, every child of God must strive to maintain a good conscience. • How? • Through diligent study of the Word of God. 1 Pet. 2:2like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

  13. How Does One Maintain A Good Conscience Based On The Correct Standard? • The struggle to maintain a good conscience must continue to the end. Heb 3:6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

  14. How Does One Maintain A Good Conscience Based On The Correct Standard? • Will often require strong self-discipline. 1 Cor. 9:27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

  15. MAINTAINING A GOOD CONSCIENCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE. • The ongoing challenge to maintaining a good conscience: Counting The Cost

  16. MAINTAINING A GOOD CONSCIENCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE. • Will my associations be such as will corrupt sound moral judgments? • 1 Cor. 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals.“ • 2 Cor 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

  17. MAINTAINING A GOOD CONSCIENCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE. • Some fear being criticized for maintaining moral principles for conscience sake. • The strongest pressure often comes from family, friends, coworkers • Even brethren whose conscience is drifting, may present challenges 2 Peter 3:3 (Jude 18) Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts

  18. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT STRIVING FOR A GOOD CONSCIENCE? • One who does not keep his conscience pure, will not be able to stand in the evil day Eph. 6:13 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm

  19. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT STRIVING FOR A GOOD CONSCIENCE? • The mind may become reprobate [not standing the test, rejected-Vines] and thus unfit to stand the trials of temptation Rom. 1:28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

  20. Consequences (continued) • The conscience may ultimately become seared (1 Tim 4:2): by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, • Seared conscience is an outcome of our actions in • resisting (Acts 7:51) • insulting (Heb. 10:29) • lying to (Acts 5:3) • and finally quenching (1 Thess. 5:19) the Spirit of God,

  21. Conclusion • A conscience (an internal judge) that can be described as clear, sincere, or kind is not necessarily a good (righteous) conscience • Our conscience—our internal judge—must judge according to the right standard (John 17:17) • We must maintain a conscience that is cleansed “from dead works to serve the living God”. • Heb 9:14

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