When it isn’t clear, the conscience can make you feel miserable. In fact, by doing that, it can save you from a lot more trouble. But did you know that you can also damage your conscience so that it doesn’t work the way it should? Find out more about how the conscience works tomorrow. (And read ahead, if you like.)
According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper…
They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?… Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,
But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
[H]olding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king? You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’
So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
[H]ow much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
