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Having a Good Conscience
(1 Timothy 1:5)

​​Introduction:

         1. This verse mentions 3 important subjects:
             a. "charity [love] out of a pure heart"
             b. "a good conscience"
             c. "faith unfeigned."
         2. Recently on Wednesday evenings we studied:
             a. Hebrews 11 [the faith chapter]
             b. 1 Corinthians 13 [the love chapter].
         3. This morning we are concentrating on passages that teach us what we need to know about
             "having a good conscience."

Discussion:

I.            LET  US  FIRST  GIVE  A  DEFINITION  OF  "THE  CONSCIENCE"


         A. Conscience: the inner part of us that determines whether something is right or wrong.
         B. A properly trained conscience will prompt a person to do what is right, and it will lead a person
              to abstain from what is wrong.
              1. Joseph illustrated this principle when he refused to commit adultery with Potiphar's wife
                  (Genesis 39:8-9).
              2. He refused because he knew this was "wickedness," and he knew it was a "sin against God."
         C. A properly trained conscience will also motivate us to seek forgiveness when we make
              mistakes (Acts 2:37-38; 8:22, 24).
         D. Now that we know what the conscience is, we need to point out that . . .

II.           THE  BIBLE  SPEAKS  ABOUT  VARIOUS  TYPES  OF  CONSCIENCES

         A. Positively, the Bible teaches that a person may have:
              1. "a good conscience" (1 Timothy 1:5)
              2. a "pure conscience" (1 Timothy 3:9).
         B. Negatively, the Bible teaches that a person may have:
              1. a "seared" conscience (1 Timothy 4:1-3) ["past feeling" -- Ephesians 4:19]
              2. a "defiled" conscience (Titus 1:15)
              3. "an evil conscience" (Hebrews 10:22)
              4. a "weak conscience" (1 Corinthians 8:12).
         C. Thankfully, God has made it possible for us to undergo a change of conscience.
         D. In addition to teaching that there are various types of consciences, . . .

III.           THE  BIBLE  SHOWS  THAT  A  PERSON  MAY  BE  DECEIVED  ABOUT  THE  CONDITION 
               OF  HIS  CONSCIENCE  [illustrated by Paul]


         A. According to Acts 23:1, Paul had "lived in all good conscience before God."
         B. Notice what he had done with a clear conscience (Acts 22:3-5).
         C. His encounter with the Lord showed him he had been wrong (Acts 22:6-10).
         D. Ananias told him what to do so his sins could be washed away (Acts 22:16).
         E. This is exactly what he did (Acts 9:18).
         F. The conscience is not necessarily a safe guide to follow -- it must be properly trained
             according to God's will.

IV.         THE  BIBLE  TEACHES  US  TO  HAVE  A  GOOD  CONSCIENCE  TOWARD  GOD 
              AND  MEN


         A. We must have a good conscience toward God.
              1. How is this accomplished?
                  a. (Hebrews 9:14) "The blood of Christ" "purges" the conscience.
                  b. This is accomplished when we are baptized (1 Peter 3:21).
              2. To maintain a good conscience before God we must follow the instructions given in
                  1 John 1:7, 9.
              3. (1 Peter 2:19-21) Having a good conscience toward God will help us when our faith is tried.
         B. We must have a good conscience toward men.
              1. How is this accomplished?
              2. We have to be concerned about other people and the impact of our actions on them
                  (1 Corinthians 10:23-33).

Conclusion:

         1. The passages we have covered emphasize the importance of "having a good conscience."
         2. By way of application,:
             a. If a person disobeys God and feels no remorse, what does this say about his conscience?
             b. If a person tries to justify his behavior on the basis of what he has always done, what does
                 this say about his conscience?
             c. If a person does not care about what the Bible teaches, what does this say about his
                 conscience?
             d. If a person puts other things ahead of the Lord and His church and feels no remorse, what
                 does this say about his conscience?
         3. If your conscience needs to undergo a change, we encourage you to come to Christ for cleansing
             and renewal (Matthew 11:28-30).
Webmaster Gary L. Wade
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