Tomorrow’s message continues where we left off last week: talking about the conscience.
12 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.
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,
For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
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.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
how 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.
