The Burden of a Guilty Conscience I kept silent “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.“ (Psalm 32:3,4)

A person’s conscience is his judge (guide). David knew he was wrong. –“For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun. So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.’” (2 Samuel 11:12,13) The Burden of a Guilty Conscience

One can be convicted by his conscience. It must be tender! –“Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” (John 8:9) The Burden of a Guilty Conscience

One can be convicted by his conscience. He must not violate it! –“But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) The Burden of a Guilty Conscience

A person’s conscience is NOT his Savior. It can be misguided. –“Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’” (Acts 23:1) The Burden of a Guilty Conscience

A person’s conscience is NOT his Savior. It can be misguided. –“This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” (Acts 24:16) The Burden of a Guilty Conscience

Consciences can be misguided. –“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” (Acts 26:9-11) The Burden of a Guilty Conscience

Paul considered himself to be the chief of all sinners. –“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15) The Burden of a Guilty Conscience

Truth Brings Conscience to a Crossroad One can go from being honestly mistaken to having a SEARED conscience. –“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4:1,2)

One can go from being honestly mistaken to having a SEARED conscience. –“To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.” (Titus 1:15) Truth Brings Conscience to a Crossroad

Conscience can be purged of the burden of sin. –“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22) Truth Brings Conscience to a Crossroad

Conscience can be purged of the burden of sin. –“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14) Truth Brings Conscience to a Crossroad

Conscience can be purged of the burden of sin. –“There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21) Truth Brings Conscience to a Crossroad

Confession and Repentance Lift the Burden Obedience to God’s plan can erase a guilty conscience. –“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)

Obedience to God’s plan can erase the guilty conscience. –“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8,9) Confession and Repentance Lift the Burden

Obedience to God’s plan can erase the guilty conscience. –“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30) Confession and Repentance Lift the Burden

Obedience to God’s plan can erase the guilty conscience. –“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16) Confession and Repentance Lift the Burden

The Burden of a Guilty Conscience Why should you continue to carry around a “guilty conscience?” If you will allow Him to, God will help lift that burden.