1 Like Jiminy Cricket, many say “always let your conscience be your guide” Like Jiminy Cricket, many say “always let your conscience be your guide”

2 Your Conscience Can Be... n Evil, Heb. 10:22 n Dead, Heb. 9:14 n Defiled, Tit. 1:15 n Seared, 1 Ti. 4:2 n Weak, 1 Cor. 8:7 n Evil, Heb. 10:22 n Dead, Heb. 9:14 n Defiled, Tit. 1:15 n Seared, 1 Ti. 4:2 n Weak, 1 Cor. 8:7 n Good, Acts 23:1 n Cleansed, He. 9:14 n Pure, 2 Tim. 1:3 n Without offense, Acts 24:16 n Good, Acts 23:1 n Cleansed, He. 9:14 n Pure, 2 Tim. 1:3 n Without offense, Acts 24:16

3 A Conscience Without Offense Acts 24:16 Understanding, cleansing, training and protecting the human conscience Understanding, cleansing, training and protecting the human conscience

4 What is your conscience? n Faculty of mind by which we assess right and wrong –Monitor or gauge of what we do, Acts 23:1 –Not the final measure of God’s approval, 1 Tim. 1:13 (2 Cor. 10:12) n Faculty of mind by which we assess right and wrong –Monitor or gauge of what we do, Acts 23:1 –Not the final measure of God’s approval, 1 Tim. 1:13 (2 Cor. 10:12)

5 What does your conscience do? n Commends us or condemns us to ourselves, Rom. 2:15 –May cause guilt and shame, Jno. 8:9 –May warn us of potential wrong-doing, 1 Cor. 8:7 –May approve us, Acts 26:9 n Commends us or condemns us to ourselves, Rom. 2:15 –May cause guilt and shame, Jno. 8:9 –May warn us of potential wrong-doing, 1 Cor. 8:7 –May approve us, Acts 26:9

6 What does your conscience do? n Functions on the basis of what it knows, Rom. 2:15; 1 Cor. 8:7 –Bears witness that one has a knowledge of sin, Rom. 3:20; 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12 –Therefore, the knowledge upon which conscience rests must be accurate, or the conscience will not give a true reading! (cf. Saul of Tarsus) n Functions on the basis of what it knows, Rom. 2:15; 1 Cor. 8:7 –Bears witness that one has a knowledge of sin, Rom. 3:20; 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12 –Therefore, the knowledge upon which conscience rests must be accurate, or the conscience will not give a true reading! (cf. Saul of Tarsus)

7 Cleansing your conscience n Possible through the blood of Jesus Christ, Heb. 9:9, 14 n By an obedient faith, Heb. 10:22 –Baptism is “the answer of a good conscience toward God” 1 Peter 3:21 n Possible through the blood of Jesus Christ, Heb. 9:9, 14 n By an obedient faith, Heb. 10:22 –Baptism is “the answer of a good conscience toward God” 1 Peter 3:21

8 Training your conscience n With a knowledge of God’s word, Phil. 1:9-11 –Learn & live the commands of God, 1 Tim. 1:5 –Grow in faith, 1 Tim. 1:19 –Serve God, 2 Tim. 1:3 n With a knowledge of God’s word, Phil. 1:9-11 –Learn & live the commands of God, 1 Tim. 1:5 –Grow in faith, 1 Tim. 1:19 –Serve God, 2 Tim. 1:3

9 Protecting your conscience n Don’t defile your conscience! –With doubt, Rom. 14:22-23 Protection: Don’t violate it (Rom. 14:5; 1 Cor. 8:7, 10, 12) –With apathy, James 4:17 Protection: Do right, even to the point of suffering (1 Pet. 2:19; 3:16) n Don’t defile your conscience! –With doubt, Rom. 14:22-23 Protection: Don’t violate it (Rom. 14:5; 1 Cor. 8:7, 10, 12) –With apathy, James 4:17 Protection: Do right, even to the point of suffering (1 Pet. 2:19; 3:16)

10 Protecting your conscience n Don’t defile your conscience! –With false doctrine, 1 Tim. 4:1-2 Protection: Pure doctrine (1 Tim. 4:3; 3:9) –With willful sin, Rom. 13:5 Protection: Humility & sincerity (2 Cor. 1:12; Heb. 13:18) n Don’t defile your conscience! –With false doctrine, 1 Tim. 4:1-2 Protection: Pure doctrine (1 Tim. 4:3; 3:9) –With willful sin, Rom. 13:5 Protection: Humility & sincerity (2 Cor. 1:12; Heb. 13:18)

11 A Conscience Without Offense Acts 24:16 Operates in “full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22) Operates in “full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22)

12 A Conscience Without Offense Acts 24:16 Must be properly taught and trained to help us avoid sin and do God’s will (1 Timothy 1:5) Must be properly taught and trained to help us avoid sin and do God’s will (1 Timothy 1:5)