Keeping a Good Conscience 1 Tim 1:18-20

Keeping a Good Conscience 1 Tim 1:18-20 Implies we could lose a good conscience Implies that we must make some effort to retain it Implies that retaining a good conscience does not come automatically, or by chance or accident Consequence of not keeping good conscience = shipwreck

Keeping a Good Conscience 1 Tim 1:18-20 Continue in the things that we have learned- live with confidence in the Scriptures and let them do their job! 2 Tim 3:14-17; Heb 4:12; 1 Jn 3:19-22; Prov 3:19-24 When we make decisions, don’t violate our conscience Acts 23:1; Rom 14:22-23; 1 Cor 8:9-13; Eph 4:17-19; 1 Tim 4:1-3

The seared conscience is referred to in 1 Timothy 4:2 where Paul talks about those whose consciences—their moral consciousness—have been literally “cauterized” or rendered insensitive in the same way the hide of an animal scarred with a branding iron becomes numb to further pain. For human beings, having one’s conscience seared is a result of continual, unrepentant sinning. Eventually, sin dulls the sense of moral right or wrong, and the unrepentant sinner becomes numb to the warnings of the conscience that God has placed within each of us to guide us (Romans 2:15).

Keeping a Good Conscience 1 Tim 1:18-20 Continue in the things that we have learned- live with confidence in the Scriptures and let them do their job! 2 Tim 3:14-17; Heb 4:12; 1 Jn 3:19-22; Prov 3:19-24 When we make decisions, don’t violate our conscience Acts 23:1; Rom 14:22-23; 1 Cor 8:9-13; Eph 4:17-19; 1 Tim 4:1-3 When we feel guilt; pay attention to it; let grief lead to repentance, repentance to forgiveness, and forgiveness to a conscience full of joy and peace Rom 2:15; 2 Cor 7:8-10; Js 4:8-10; Ps 51:7-8, 12, 17; 1 Jn 1:9; Rom 15:13

Keeping a Good Conscience 1 Tim 1:18-20 Are we continuing in the things we have learned? Are we determined to make decisions that will not result in a violation of our conscience? Do we make the proper response to the guilt we feel; if we have sinned, do we excuse ourselves to feel better or do we confess wrong and repent? Keeping a good conscience, along with faith, will keep us from shipwreck and carry us to our crown! – note the confidence of a good conscience! 2 Tim 4:7-8