Articles
God’s Given Conscience
God gives every person on this planet a conscience. However, the world can corrupt and encourage a person’s conscience to pursue unrighteous actions. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 reads, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.”
In his encouraging 1st letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul uses the term “later days.” At first glance, “later days” sounds like a time that is far off from the present. However, since Christians do not know when Christ’s second coming will be, every day can be considered a “later time” because that Day can always be tomorrow. Therefore Hebrews 10:21-25 tells us, “Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
In 1 Timothy 1:5, Paul also told Timothy, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” The apostle Peter, tells us that baptism saves God’s children because it is an appeal to God for a good conscience made through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21). During baptism, God’s children confess their belief in Jesus and the hope of salvation that He brings by His death and resurrection. You and I can “hold fast” to our faith and grow our love for God by diligently exploring God’s Word and comparing ourselves and others to Jesus Christ’s teachings (1 John 4:1-6, Romans 12:1-2).
As a great source of inspiration to persevere in good conscience and righteous faith, Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
