DIGGING DEEP NO 1076 – March 25, 2025                         Serving God With A Pure Conscience                                          2Timothy1:3

Apostle Paul often spoke of having a good conscience toward God. In his defense before the council Acts 23:1 In his defense before Felix Acts 24:15-16 He also makes mention of it in his epistle to Timothy 2Timothy1:3

The role our conscience plays is often misunderstood. Some assume it is to be the final authority for what you do. “Let your conscience be your guide” is the motto for many yet your conscience can sometimes lead you astray. The value of a good conscience is perhaps often overlooked. Some do not listen to their conscience when they should. They think nothing of the consequences of violating their conscience, yet ignoring your conscience can lead to sin, unbelief, and apostasy. If we desire to serve God with a “pure conscience” like Paul did 2 Timothy 1:3, then we do well to learn what we can about the conscience and its bearing on Christian living. 

It is that process of thought which distinguishes

The conscience defined-Understanding the conscience.

What it considers morally good or bad, commending the good, condemning the bad, and prompting people to do the good and avoid the bad.

Note carefully: The conscience is a process of thought that distinguishes. It makes moral judgments, but it distinguishes what one considers morally good or bad. The conscience has the potential to be a great aid. It can encourage us to do the good and avoid the bad only if what one considers good and bad are actually good and bad. Thus the conscience is like a watch. It can serve a useful purpose only if properly set. If set incorrectly, if misinformed about what is good or bad, then the conscience will lead us astray.

The conscience may not always be a reliable guide.

Paul had served God with a good conscience throughout his life Acts 23:1 Even at a time when he was persecuting Christians Acts 26:9-11 He thought -his conscience guiding him- that he must oppose the name of Jesus. His conscience worked properly, but it had been set incorrectly. So, it is imperative that we ask ourselves: 1-Is what we consider morally good or bad actually good or bad? 2-Are our moral judgments based upon God’s absolute truths, or our own ‘think so’?  3-Has our conscience been properly set? While the conscience may not always be a reliable guide, God desires that we have a good conscience regarding our faith, i.e., a pure conscience 1Timothy 1:5; 3:9

The conscience developed- How a pure conscience is made possible.

We are all sinners, so how can we possibly have a pure conscience? Romans 3:23 A clean conscience is made possible through Jesus’ blood. Old Testament sacrifices and ordinances were insufficient Hebrews 9:9 The blood of Jesus can cleanse one’s conscience Hebrews 9:14; 1Peter 3:21 Thus in baptism we make an appeal for a good conscience, trusting that the blood of Jesus will wash away our sins Acts 2:38

How a pure conscience is maintained– A good conscience is maintained by obedience to God’s will.

Failure to do what we know is right is sinful James 4:17 Failure to abstain from what we know is wrong is also sinful. Conduct with godly sincerity makes for a good conscience 2 Corinthians 1:12 Doing what you know is right with all sincerity develops confidence and the more we do what is good and abstain from what is wrong, the better and purer our conscience will be. By God’s grace, even the rankest of sinners can have their conscience cleansed. Through faithfulness to Christ, they can keep that conscience pure. But we should also note that it is possible to have the conscience destroyed. Much harm can be done to the conscience. 1-We can violate our conscience, which is sinful Romans 14:22-23 2-We can defile our conscience, leading to unbelief Titus 1:15 3-We can sear our conscience, leading to apostasy 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Ignoring or violating the conscience is dangerous. A guilty conscience can soon lead to a hardened conscience. For example, once our conscience is hardened regarding attendance Hebrews 10:25

it is more likely to become hardened against doing what is right in other areas. A hardened conscience can lead to a heart of unbelief Hebrews 3:12 The deceitfulness of sin hardens one’s heart. A hard heart can begin to question what one once believed.

CONCLUSION

As children of God and followers of Christ, we must desire to have a good conscience in all things and desire to live honorably. Hebrews 13:18 Like Apostle Paul we must be able to thank God, whom we serve with a pure conscience 2Timothy 1:3 If not, and our conscience has not yet become so hardened that we will not heed, then we need to come to Jesus for the cleansing of our conscience through His blood. We need to

come to God’s Word for the proper understanding of what is actually right and wrong and come to God’s Family through frequent assembling to exhort us to do what is good. We should ask for Grace to serve God with a pure conscience.