How To Have A Clean Conscience

Conscience - A moral sense of right and wrong that affects one’s behavior.

Illustration:Conscience tells us that we ought to do right, but it does not tell us what right is--that we are taught by God’s word.

H.C. Trumbull.

Illustration: Throughout his administration, Abraham Lincoln was a president under fire, especially during the scarring years of the Civil War. And though he knew he would make errors of office, he resolved never to compromise his integrity. So strong was this resolve that he once said, "I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me."

Today In The Word, August, 1989, p. 21.

I . The Trouble of a Guilty, Shameful and Convicted Conscience -

God gave every person an innate sense of good and evil, but sin clouds the pure conscience of all mankind. (Rom. 1:18-32)

A. Paul Renounced underhanded methods, motives and trickery, but stated God’s truth clearly and candidly to Commend himself to every person’s conscience. (2 Cor. 4:2)

B. The non-christian’s conscience has been darkened and blinded by the deceitfulness of sin. (Eph. 4:18) Since the sin of Adam, all human consciences are depraved. (Rom. 5:12)

Illustration:Once we assuage our conscience by calling something a "necessary evil," it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less evil.

Sidney J. Harris.

C. To those who are not completely living under the control of the Holy Spirit their consciences are defiled, polluted, corrupt and that which is pure. (Titus 1:15)

Illustration:The antagonism between life and conscience may be removed in two ways: By a change of life or by a change of conscience.

Leo Tolstoy.

D. We can only draw near to God with a pure conscience through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit through the truth of the Word of God.

E. One can never have perfect private or public peace without a clear conscience. (Phil. 4:6-8) worst tormentor in hell will be a person’s own guilty, shameful and regretful conscience (Lk. 15:25)

2. The Benefits of a Clean Conscience -

Only by completely trusting in Christ’s merit with full assurance, confidence and delight in all of His attributes are we able to have our hearts sprinkled clean and purified from our evil, guilty, and shameful conscience ;and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb. 10:22)

A. With a clear conscience we are able to have full hope, power and unwavering faith in God will fulfill all of His promises no matter what!. (Heb. 10:23)

B. We may boldly approach God’s throne of grace through prayer fearlessly and with full confidence knowing that I le will be merciful, gracious and wise in the way He answers our petitions. (Heb. 4:15,16)

3 How To Have a Clean Conscience -

Ask the Lord to cleanse your conscience through the blood of Christ. of Christ and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit as we confess our sins. (I John 1:9)

A. Believe in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)

Illustration:When Sgt. Ray Baarz of the Midvale, Utah, police department opened his wallet, he noticed his driver’s license had expired. Embarrassed at having caught himself red-handed, he had no alternative. He calmly and deliberately pulled out his ticket book and wrote himself a citation. Then Baarz took the ticket to the city judge who fined him five dollars. "How could I give a ticket to anyone else for an expired license in the future if I didn’t cite myself?" Baarz asked.

Source Unknown.

B. Let the word of God cleanse your conscience from dead works through meditation, memorization, study, and application to help you serve the Lord with humility, love and wisdom. (Heb. 9:14)

C. Make it your goal to help others have love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (I Tim. 1:5)

D. Warn people of the destructive capacity of a dirty, vile and impure conscience. These people actually oppose the wholesome teaching and sound doctrine of the scripture through their sins of omission.

E. Make every effort to maintain a clear conscience so that when you are falsely accuscd, those who threaten you abusively may come to be ashamed of slandering your good lifestyle. (I Pet. 3:16)

F. Beware of having an over sensitive conscience in small matters while neglecting the more important macroscopic issucs. (Matt.23:23)

G. We could develop a more discerning conscience throllgll the practicc of righteousness and experience. (Heb. 5:14)

H. We can become more knowledgeable and wisc as we let our minds be transformed by the word of God and refusal to be conformed to this world. (Rom. 12:1,2)