Truth and...(last one)

Conscience

I thought of one more "con" to use with the truth. Truth and Conscience. The word conscience is used several times in Scripture, but in regards to truth, the Apostle Paul has the best examples. Let's took a look at some of them.

"Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, 'My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day'" (Acts 23:1). The human conscience confirms behavioral truth. Paul says, "Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them" (Romans 2:14-15). Paul says, "I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 9:1).

As these three examples show, conscience confirms the truth in thought, word, and deed.

Paul says, "Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience" (Romans 13:5). Here we are reminded that truth has consequences, but the consequence is not the only reason to follow the truth. Conscience plays a role in conviction and guilt in regards to the truth.

Paul says, "My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me" (1 Corinthians 4:4). This is a great verse. We learn that a person can have a clear conscience, yet be living outside the truth. There is no excuse, as God is the judge. His judgment is not based on our consciences, but on the truth. Therefore, the conscience can be a victim of lies.

Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 10:29, "Why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?" This might be the feeling of every sinner. In a world where "self" governs, another rule, especially that determined by somebody else's "self," should not apply to me. Thus, we need an absolute standard of right and wrong, not determined by a human conscience. Thanks be to God that we have His word to serve as our guide.

Paul says, "By setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Corinthians 4:2). Paul says, "They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience" (1 Timothy 3:9). Here we see that conscience can discern the truth and appreciate it. But lastly, Paul says, "Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:2), and, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted" (Titus 1:15). The conscience can be corrupted and seared, which is what we see in the secular world today.

So truth and conscience are intertwined, but the conscience is not always right about the truth. The truth is unchanging, and is always true. Sin corrupts the conscience to be blinded to the truth, and all of us at one time were blind. The conscience, however, by the grace of God, can be enabled to discern truth; once this happens (regeneration), the conscience becomes a powerful tool in defending the truth in thought, word, and deed.