CONSCIENCE

Greek, "suneidesis"

"To know with" - "a co-knowledge (with oneself) - the witness borne to one's conduct by conscience, that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, as that which is designed to govern our lives." [Vine's Expository Dictionary]

1. Conscience - Its Function
   
   
2. A Good / Clear / Clean Conscience
   
   
3. Other Things Related to Conscience
   
   
4. We and the Consciences of Others

CONSCIENCE - ITS FUNCTION

1. What it should do (convict/ bear witness about sin) - John 8:9 (some translations); Romans 2:15. [See also Hebrews 10:2.]
    
2. It can testify about various matters (such as when we have done what is right) - Romans 9:1; 2 Corinthians 1:12. [See also the previous section.]
    
3. It's function can be destroyed or made less effective - 1 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:15. [Note: Not having a conscious awareness of sin does not prove that we are innocent. See 1 Corinthians 4:2-4 (Greek, sunoida, a related word)]

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A GOOD/CLEAR/CLEAN CONSCIENCE

1. Only possible through Christ (not through Old Testament rituals).
   • The Old Testament rituals - a "shadow" of Christ - Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 10:2.
     
   • Through Christ; the blood of Christ... - Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22.
      
2. Examples of such a conscience - Acts 23:1; 2 Timothy 1:3; Hebrews 13:18.
    
3. Striving to keep it clear - Acts 24:16.

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OTHER THINGS RELATED TO CONSCIENCE

1. Love resulting from a good conscience - 1 Timothy 1:5.
    
2. Things done because of conscience.
   • Submission to authorities - Romans 13:5.
     
   • Bearing up under unjust suffering - 1 Peter 2:19.
      
3. Things which should accompany a clear/good conscience.
   • Fighting the good fight - 1 Timothy 1:19.
     
   • Holding on to the deep truths of the faith - 1 Timothy 3:9.
     
   • Explaining the reason for the hope that is within you - 1 Peter 3:16.
      
4. A good conscience and baptism - 1 Peter 3:21.
   [Remember that in the early church, baptism was normally considered the first act of obedience and the first expression of commitment to Jesus Christ. It was not something that was done weeks or years later, after a person got "saved," and after he attended lectures or classes on various topics. In the early church, until a person was willing to obey and commit himself to Jesus - which meant he was willing first to be baptized, and then to live as a follower of Jesus - there was no reason for a clear conscience. There was no reason for a person to consider himself a disciple of Jesus! (The only exceptions would have been abnormal situations, comparable to the thief who died on the cross, after he asked Jesus to "remember him" - Luke 23:42-43.)]

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WE AND THE CONSCIENCES OF OTHERS

PART 1 - Our actions and the consciences of others.

1. Their awareness of our devotion to truth [rather than us being deceptive] - 2 Corinthians 4:2.
    
2. Their awareness of our "openness" in what we do and are [nothing secret or hidden] - 2 Corinthians 5:11.

PART 2 - Wounding another's conscience by our arrogant expression of "rights" or "freedom."

1. The problem (illustrated by the issue of eating meat offered to idols):
   • A self-centered expression of "rights" may injure those with weak consciences - 1 Corinthians 8:7.
     
   • When we do this injury, we are sinning - 1 Corinthians 8:10,12.
      
2. An illustration: Paul's lifestyle - 1 Corinthians 9. [Paul did not exercise the rights he had as an apostle. Application: We shouldn't always demand our rights, either.]
    
3. The solution:
   • Exercise "rights" without raising such questions... - 1 Corinthians 10:25,27.
     
   • But if such questions are raised (by the others), do not exercise them... 1 Corinthians 10:28-29a.
     
   • ...Or your "rights" will be judged by their conscience - 1 Corinthians 10: 29b. [See also the verses that follow.]
      
4. The conclusion of the matter: Do all to the glory of God; follow Paul's example, etc. - 1 Corinthians 10:31 - 11:1.
   [Note: Study the context of these verses. When we refrain from expressing our "rights" in this context (so that we do not hurt others) it is not the same as giving-in to the whims of "legalistic Pharisees," whose purpose is simply to enslave us with a list of restrictions. For the first group, Paul always yielded his rights; for the second group, he never did. For the first group, our actions can cause them to sin; for the second group, they are sinful and warped regardless of our actions.]

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Dennis Hinks © 1994, 2004
Vine's Expository Dictionary (quoted) is public domain.
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