Chapter 128
A Good Conscience
What is conscience?
"The knowledge of our acts, states, or characters, as right or wrong; the faculty, power, or principle which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our actions and affections, and approves or condemns them; the moral faculty; the moral sense." Webster.
"As science means knowledge, conscience etymologically
means self-knowledge ...But the English word implies a moral
standard of action in the mind as well as a consciousness of our own
actions. ...Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of
right and wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and
condemnation." Whewell.
What effect is the application of the blood of Christ expected to have upon the
conscience?
"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?" Heb. 9:14.
When once purged by the blood of Christ, in what condition is the conscience of
an individual?
"Because that the worshipers once purged
should have had no more conscience of sins." Heb. 10:2.
In his defense before a certain council, how did Paul say he, had
constantly lived?
"Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before
God until this day." Acts 23:1.
When one lives as the apostle declared he had, in all good conscience, in what
condition will his conscience be?
"And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience
void of offense toward God, and toward men." Acts 24:16.
What does the apostle say the act of baptism is to the candidate?
"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us
(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a
good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 3:21.
What else will a good conscience lead one to do?
"For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure
grief, suffering wrongfully." 1 Peter 2:19.
If one repels the Spirit of God from him, and refuses to have his conscience, or
knowledge of himself, quickened, what is the result?
"Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared
with a hot iron." 1 Tim. 4:2.
When one's conscience is well enlightened, what will it do for the individual?
"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that
in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the
grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world." 2 Cor. 1:12.
With what is a good conscience connected?
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure
heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." 1 Tim. 1:5.
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