How to achieve a God Lead Conscience
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Romans 2:14 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:
Romans 2:15 Which show 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;)
Conscience is defined as:
An inner witness to God and righteousness
An instinctive knowledge of right and wrong
Thoughts – accusing or approving
Many people think that your conscience is the Holy Spirit, but this is not the case. Verse 15 teaches us that God has placed His laws within the heart of every human, without regard for their knowledge and faith in God or lack of it. We all have an inborn sense of right and wrong and this is our conscience. When we become saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, our conscience is a tool that the Holy Spirit uses to convict us.
Before we look at what a builds and constitutes good conscience we must first look at the causes of bad or evil conscience. What is an evil conscience, a simple but true answer is that it is the opposite of a good conscience. A good conscience is one that is effective, it convicts us when we have done wrong, and it encourages us when we do right. An evil conscience encouraging also. When a person with an evil conscience, they are encouraged by that evil conscience when they do wrong. An evil conscience will tell you things like, “Her marriage was on the rocks anyway, that store has a lot of merchandise they won’t even miss what you just stole or pornography is alright if you do it in your own house. We are talking about an evil conscience, Just rooting you on as you continue to sin.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
This is an excellent description of a person with an evil conscience. So an evil conscience is one that substitutes that which is wrong for that which is right. The standard by which an evil conscience judges I faulty and the result is a conscience that fails to work the way God planned for it to work.
Now what causes this evil conscience. First of all it stems from an improper concept of God and of sin. People take lightly the Word of God, especially that part that condems sinful activity. This results in not believing that the wages of sin is death. As a person begins to think improperly about God and sin, it is just a short step from there to putting those improper thoughts into action.
Titus 1:15 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.
A conscience is defiled because of a defiled mind. As a result of continued sin, a defiled conscience becomes insensitive to sin.
Repetition becomes habit then becomes lifestyle. The more you drink, the more you say to yourself, “I think a more clearly when I drink because I have released this stress.” Or, “I am much more creative when I’m high.”
Other evidences of an evil conscience are shallow confessions and shallow repentance. “Lord this was the last time,” Lord I will never, ever do it again. Lord if you get me out of the emergency room I’m just gonna. Lord if they find me not Guilty I’m just gonna.
A confession with the mouth is nothing if it is not backed up with the heart, because true repentance is from the heart. The word repent means to turn away, so until you have turned and walked away from that which is keeping you from the Lord, the confession is shallow, the repentance is shallow.
Evidence of an evil conscience is measuring sin. To God sin is sin. There is no little sin or big sin. But an evil conscience will say well I never killed anyone, I never committed any of those Big sins.
Evidence of an evil conscience is arguing with the truth and going so far as to misuse the Bible to support their sin, sometime even professing Christians do this. “We are not under the law, we are under grace so we can do what ever we want to do.” “I don’t see where it says to tithe in the New Testament.” “The bible says a wife is to summit to her husband so woman you better do what I say.” We are talking about an evil conscience.
The only hope for an evil conscience is the blood of Christ. We can always come to the Lord and have our hearts cleansed. We must first confess honestly before God and demonstrate an attitude of true repentance.
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?
Until we realize that life without Jesus is death, Until we realize that a treasure on earth is worthless when compared with a treasure in heaven. Until we realize that giving your life to Jesus will give you that peace, that calmness that you have been searching for, you will never have the benefit of a good conscience.
When you give your life to Christ and receive the Holy Spirit, He begins to work with our conscience to shape and mold us into the image of His Son.
Now what are the benefits of a good conscience?
First of all it will keep us on course Spiritually. Paul warned Timothy to stick to the doctrines of the Word of God because it will help develop a good conscience. If we do not sat on course with the Word of God, we will not achieve the purposes God has for us.
Timothy II 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
Approved for what, the work of the Lord.
A good conscience will keep you witnessing.
In first Peter chapter 3, the folks was writing to were having some difficulty living in this hostile world. But Peter encouraged them to turn these difficult obstacles into opportunities to witness. With a good conscience, you can even witness to those who persecute you. The Bible tells us to pray for our enemies, well you need to make youself available for God to use you to answer your own prayer.
A good conscience is enlightening because it is taught and by the Word of God. It is like a window that lets light into a room. The more light that enters, the better we can see areas that need to be cleaned up or changed. The more knowledge we have about God, the better our conscience will work. Knowledge and Conscience work together. The reason that some people consciences do not bother them is because they have the knowledge to enlighten their consciences.
One can never have perfect private or public peace without a good clear conscience.
Without Jesus as Lord in our life, it is impossible to have a clear guilt free conscience. The bible in 1 Samuel 25:31 refers to a guilty conscience as a staggering burden. When ever something is bothering you, most people can mask themselves, put on a smiling face and be positive, cheerful and energetic as a front at work. But after faking it all day, you are drained emotionally and by the time you get home, there is no enthusiasm left and your spouse and children suffer because of it. They have to cope with a somber, preoccupied and depressed person. Struggling with guilt drains the emotional energy that that you would otherwise used to give your family in the form of love and attention.
So a good conscience is a God led conscience. So if you are tired of your life being filled and anger, slander, malice, idolatry, greed, selfishness, laziness, indiscipline, complaing, gossiping, immorality, manipulation, offensive language, lying, deceit then today is your day. Because the only way to loose these sinful shackles is with the key to salvation (Jesus Christ) Say yes to Jesus today and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to being more that a good man but a God man.
Cedric A. Portis
Email: cedque8@cs.com
