Topical Bible: Conscience: we should Have the Approval of

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The concept of conscience in the Bible is a significant aspect of Christian ethics and morality. It refers to the inner sense of right and wrong that guides a believer's actions and decisions. The Bible emphasizes the importance of having a clear and good conscience before God and others, aligning one's conscience with the teachings of Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Foundation

The Apostle Paul frequently addresses the role of conscience in the life of a believer. In Acts 24:16, Paul states, "In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man." This verse highlights the dual responsibility of maintaining a conscience that is not only right before God but also blameless in the sight of others.

In 1 Timothy 1:5, Paul writes, "The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith." Here, a clear conscience is linked with love and faith, suggesting that a well-formed conscience is integral to living out the Christian faith authentically.

Conscience and Moral Discernment

The Bible teaches that a well-informed conscience is essential for moral discernment. Hebrews 13:18 encourages believers to "pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way." This verse underscores the connection between a clear conscience and honorable living, suggesting that a conscience aligned with God's will leads to ethical behavior.

Romans 2:15 speaks of the conscience as a witness, stating, "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 passage indicates that the conscience acts as an internal guide, reflecting God's moral law.

Conscience and Christian Liberty

The New Testament also addresses the relationship between conscience and Christian liberty. In 1 Corinthians 8:7-12, Paul discusses the issue of eating food offered to idols, emphasizing the need to respect the consciences of others. He writes, "Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak" (1 Corinthians 8:9). This passage teaches that while believers have freedom in Christ, they must exercise it with consideration for the consciences of fellow believers.

Conscience and Accountability

A clear conscience is also associated with accountability before God. In 1 Peter 3:16, believers are encouraged to maintain a good conscience so that "those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ." This verse suggests that a good conscience serves as a defense against false accusations and is a testament to one's integrity.

Furthermore, Hebrews 9:14 speaks of the cleansing of the conscience through Christ's sacrifice: "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 highlights the transformative power of Christ's atonement in purifying the believer's conscience.

Practical Implications

Believers are called to cultivate a conscience that is sensitive to the Holy Spirit and informed by Scripture. Romans 14:22 advises, "Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves." This encourages personal reflection and discernment in matters of conscience, ensuring that one's actions are pleasing to God.

In summary, the Bible presents the conscience as a vital component of the Christian life, guiding believers in moral decision-making and fostering accountability to God and others. A well-formed conscience, aligned with biblical principles, is essential for living a life that honors God and reflects His love and truth.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 27:6
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 24:16
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offense toward God, and toward men.
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Romans 9:1
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
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Romans 14:22
Have you faith? have it to yourself before God. Happy is he that comdemns not himself in that thing which he allows.
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Library

What Children of Light Should Be
... Jesus Christ would have us to be all-round men, and would that we should seek to
aim after and possess the kinds of ... We have a conscience;"well, that needs ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/what children of light should.htm

Letter Lxiv. (AD 401. )
... towards you with that same charity which we are assured ... Your coming to us, however,
should not on this ... you have the approval of your own conscience, which is ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lxiv a d 401.htm

Goodness in a Dungeon
... be sure that, if ever faithfulness to conscience involves us ... and therefore itself,
to those who have to do ... It is not enough that we should be severely righteous ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/goodness in a dungeon.htm

Jesus and the Bethany Sisters.
... Then we try to soothe an uneasy conscience by quoting ... We should get a lesson in
friendship's ministry. ... commendation he sought; but it would have comforted him ...
/.../miller/personal friendships of jesus/chapter x jesus and the.htm

Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
... no persons then be surprised that religious obedience should really be ... accustom
themselves and lose this feeling; but till we blunt our conscience, it is ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon xiv religion pleasant to.htm

Shame on Account of God's Displeasure.
... And the feeling that we are thus unworthy, instead of being lightly and callously
dismissed, should be allowed to penetrate and stir the conscience. ...
/.../dods/how to become like christ/shame on account of gods.htm

The Letter of Anastasius,
... to ask my advice, must bring his conscience to the ... any possibility come to pass that
we should accept as ... We have, therefore, the assurance that Christ our God ...
/.../the letter of anastasius.htm

Naaman's Imperfect Faith
... of both worlds.' But his sophistication of conscience will not do ... If his act needed
forgiveness, it should not have been ... Let us take the warning that we are to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/naamans imperfect faith.htm

To the Magnesians
... seem to me to be acting against their conscience, since they ... were he to act as we
do, we should at once ... Hence, now we are his disciples, we must learn to live ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/to the magnesians.htm

Faustus Fails to Understand Why He Should be Required Either to ...
... the nature of the food, but, for conscience sake, not ... have shown that there was none;
and we will do ... is intolerable that the reader or learner should dare to ...
/.../faustus fails to understand why.htm