Topical Bible: Conscience: The Blood of Christ Alone Can Purify

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The concept of conscience in the Bible is deeply intertwined with the understanding of sin, guilt, and the need for purification. The conscience is the inner faculty that discerns right from wrong, often described as the moral compass given by God to every individual. In the fallen state of humanity, the conscience can become defiled, seared, or burdened by guilt due to sin. The Bible presents the blood of Christ as the sole means by which the conscience can be truly purified and cleansed.

Biblical Understanding of Conscience

The conscience is mentioned throughout Scripture as a witness to the moral law written on the hearts of men. In Romans 2:15, Paul writes, "They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them." This indicates that the conscience functions as an internal guide, reflecting God's standards of holiness and righteousness.

However, the conscience can be corrupted. Titus 1:15 states, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; in fact, both their minds and consciences are defiled." This defilement results from sin, which separates humanity from God and distorts the moral understanding.

The Need for Purification

The Old Testament sacrificial system provided a temporary means of dealing with sin and guilt, but it was ultimately insufficient to cleanse the conscience. Hebrews 9:9-10 explains that these sacrifices were "unable to clear the conscience of the worshiper" and were only "external regulations applying until the time of the new order."

The inadequacy of the old covenant sacrifices highlights the need for a perfect and final atonement. Hebrews 10:1-4 further elaborates that "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins," underscoring the necessity of a superior sacrifice.

The Blood of Christ as the Means of Purification

The New Testament reveals that the blood of Christ is the only means by which the conscience can be purified. Hebrews 9:14 declares, "How much more 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!" This verse emphasizes the sufficiency and efficacy of Christ's sacrifice in purifying the conscience from dead works.

The blood of Christ not only cleanses but also sanctifies the believer, enabling a restored relationship with God. 1 John 1:7 affirms, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." This cleansing is comprehensive, addressing both the guilt of sin and the defilement of the conscience.

Living with a Purified Conscience

A purified conscience allows believers to live in freedom and confidence before God. Hebrews 10:22 encourages believers to "draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." This access to God is made possible through the atoning work of Christ, which removes the barrier of sin and guilt.

The purified conscience also empowers believers to serve God effectively. As stated in Hebrews 9:14, the cleansing of the conscience enables service to the living God, free from the dead works that once enslaved the individual. This service is characterized by a life of holiness, obedience, and devotion to God's will.

In summary, the Bible teaches that the conscience, while a vital moral guide, is subject to defilement through sin. The blood of Christ is presented as the exclusive means of purification, offering a complete and eternal cleansing that restores the believer to a right relationship with God and empowers a life of faithful service.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 9:14
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?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 10:2-10,22
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Fifth Sunday in Lent
... through his blood; by it our conscience is freed ... as God promises the Spirit through
the blood of Christ ... lesson, the comforting doctrine taught that Christ is he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fifth sunday in lent.htm

The Confession of the Society of Friends, Commonly Called Quakers. ...
... things the breaking of bread by Christ with his ... abstaining from things strangled,
and from blood;' the washing ... power and dominion of the conscience, who alone ...
/.../the confession of the society.htm

How to Make Use of Christ for Cleansing of us from Our Daily Spots ...
... have put our filthy souls in the hand of the great cleanser, Jesus Christ, and brought
all our pollutions to his blood, what can conscience say to ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter ix how to make.htm

What is Sanctification?
... the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through ...
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter i what is sanctification.htm

The Subtraction Process
... the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through ...
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter vii the subtraction process.htm

Our Inheritance
... wonder the apostle asks, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through ... Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead ...
//christianbookshelf.org/byers/sanctification/chapter v our inheritance.htm

On Baptism.
... he was not ashamed to speak, for conscience hindered not ... the children are partakers
of flesh and blood, He also ... can be a greater sin than to crucify Christ? ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture iii on baptism.htm

Sunday after Easter
... shall know also that purification of the conscience and remission ... But Christ alone
brings with him the power and ... who sanctifies us through the blood and water ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday after easter.htm

Modern Revivals.
... yearning compassion for the purchase of the blood of Christ. ... pulpit was an echo of
the voice of conscience.... ... The gospel of Christ alone can free him from the ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /27 modern revivals.htm

Modern Revivals
... compassion for the purchase of the blood of Christ ... pulpit was an echo of the voice
of conscience. ... The gospel of Christ alone can free him from the condemnation ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 27 modern revivals.htm