The Degradation of the Conscience

1 Timothy 1:5-7, 18-20

INTRODUCTION: In the beginning, Christianity appears to have been more of a matter of the heart. What we see before us at this point is not all that different than what the Lord found among the Jews when He came in His incarnation. We honour God with our lips, but our hearts are far from Him. We concern ourselves more with our image or persona than we do our actual heart condition.

I. THE NATURE OF THE CONSCIENCE

A. As Defined in the Dictionary

1. Conscience is a compound word made up of the prefix con and the root word science.
2. The word is often defined as knowledge within, or one’s inner thoughts.

B. As Associated in Scripture

1. Bearing witness to the law written in the heart and associating with the thoughts to accuse or excuse (Romans 2:15).
2. Associated with one’s internal knowledge (1 Corinthians 8:7-11)

II. THE PURPOSE OF THE CONSCIENCE

A. The Work of the Conscience

1. Conviction (John 8:9)
2. Bearing witness (Romans 2:15; Romans 9:1)
3. Accusing or excusing (Romans 2:15)

B. The Delight of the Conscience

1. The end goal of the conscience
a. “I have lived in all good conscience before God” (Acts 23:1).
b. “I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16).
c. “The end of the commandment is … a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:5).
d. “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9)
e. “I thank my God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience” (2 Timothy 1:3)
f. “We trust we have a good conscience” (Hebrews 13:18)
g. “Having a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:16)
h. “The answer of a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:21)
2. The importance of a good conscience
a. It was Paul’s constant exercise (Acts 24:16)
b. It is a reason for submitting to government (Romans 13:5).
c. It is worth enduring wrongful suffering (1 Peter 2:19; 1 Peter 3:16).

III. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CONSCIENCE

A. Prior to Salvation

1. The conscience bears witness to the truth (Romans 2:15).
2. The conscience convicts (John 8:9).
3. The ignored conscience becomes evil (Hebrews 10:22).

B. After Salvation

1. The conscience is purged (Hebrews 9:14).
2. The conscience is weak and needs exercising (1 Corinthians 8:7, 10, 12).
3. The offended conscience becomes seared (2 Timothy 4:2) and defiled (1 Corinthians 8:7; Titus 1:15).

IV. THE STRENGTHENING OF THE CONSCIENCE

A. The Need for Truth

1. Conscience demands and craves knowledge
2. True knowledge comes from the holy scriptures and the Holy Ghost

B. The Call for Obedience

1. A conscience is only effective when it is heeded
2. Knowledge brings responsibility

CONCLUSION: For just a moment, forget how you appear to others, and consider the strength of your conscience. Have you wounded your conscience by knowingly violating the knowledge God has given you? What are you doing to ensure the strengthening of your conscience?