"In All Good Conscience?"

“Conscience” has been defined as “that process of thought which distinguishes what it considers morally good or bad, commending the good, condemning the bad, and so prompting to do the former, and avoid the latter.”

Some say, “Let your conscience be your guide.”  Others say, “Let my conscience be your guide.”  But what guides our conscience?  Does our conscience ALWAYS distinguish accurately between right and wrong?  Let us consider some things that the Scriptures reveal about one’s conscience.

Everyone has a conscience (see Romans 2:11-15).  The existence of a moral conscience is evidence of our Divine, Moral Creator.  Our consciences are God-given tools to help us distinguish between right and wrong, and DO what’s right.

The conscience is something to be heeded.  The Apostle Paul said, “I always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and man” (Acts 24:16).  Other Scriptures stress the importance of having a good conscience (1 Peter 3:15-16; 1 Timothy 1:5).  To violate our conscience is to sin (Romans 14:14-23).

The conscience, however, may be misguided.  On one occasion Paul stated, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1).  But, before he became a Christian, Paul (Saul) had been zealous in his persecution of Christians.  His conscience had not offended him because he THOUGHT he was doing the will of God (Acts 26:9)!  However, Jesus corrected his misguided conscience on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9, 22, 26).  Conscience is NOT an infallible source for determining right and wrong.

In order to be an effective guide, the conscience must be trained properly.  The conscience renders a judgment for or against some thought  or action depending on the standard accepted by one’s intellect.  Varying consciences of people throughout the world reflect different value systems.  That which is right within one society may be appalling to another.  However, the conscience can lead us to the right ends ONLY if it is trained by the right means.  It is not the conscience that serves as the final authority in moral and spiritual matters; it is the Word of God.  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The "answer" of a good conscience, one that has been trained by the Word of God, will lead one to faith, repentance, confession of Christ, and baptism.  “In the days of Noah ... only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that NOW saves YOU also -- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge (or “answer”) of a good conscience toward God.  It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20-21).

Let NOT your conscience BE YOUR GUIDE, but let your conscience BE GUIDED by God’s Word in every aspect of your life.

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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