THE CONSCIENCE STRUGGLE
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. In this lesson we want to make a study regarding the
conscience.
B. There is a constant struggle that goes on in every Christian as
regards to the conscience.
1. There is the struggle for self-praise and worth by the
conscience; that is, doing what one knows he ought to do.
Rom. 14:22b
2. There is the struggle to have a clear conscience regarding
those things which are evil. Acts 24:16
I. FIRST, LET'S DEFINE WHAT THE CONSCIENCE IS.
A. Literally, from the Latin, the word "conscience" is derived
from: the prefix con (with, together), and science (to know).
Hence, it is a "knowing together with oneself."
1. The Greek word, suneidesis carries the same meaning.
a. On the word, Thayer says, "The soul as distinguishing
between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do
the former, and shunning the latter, commending the
one, condemning the other."
b. Rom. 2:15
B. Though the word "conscience" is not used in the O.T., the
presence of it is affirmed.
1. Gen. 3:7,10 - when Adam and Eve hid themselves.
2. 2 Sam. 24:10 - David's heart smote him. ("heart condemned
him" NKJV)
II. THE CONSCIENCE IS NOT A GUIDE.
A. The conscience that is within each of us works as a judge, not
as the guide.
1. Many times we hear people say, "Just let your conscience be
your guide" or "As long as one follows his conscience he is
safe" or "As long as one is sincere he is all right."
2. The fact that one's conscience is good, or that he is
sincere, does not necessarily make him right.
a. A pagan believing in the existence of idol gods has a
good conscience and is very sincere in worshiping idols.
Nevertheless, this does not make him right. Acts 17:16-
17; 19:26-18
b. An orthodox Jew denies that Jesus is the Son of God
and does so with a good conscience. John 8:22-24
B. Our consciences tell us what is right or wrong in relation to
our standard.
1. God's word teaches that one should act in harmony with his
conscience, but the conscience must have the proper
standard, the Word of God.
2. One's training and environment might lead him to believe
error with a good conscience.
a. He might also be very sincere in the practice of error,
but these things alone do not make him right.
b. One can be sincerely wrong. "Anyone can be honestly
mistaken, but when he is confronted with the truth, he
either ceases to be mistaken or ceases to be honest."
C. It is not enough, therefore, to be sincere with a good
conscience. One must also have the right standard, the Word of
God.
III. LET'S EXAMINE THE STANDARD, THEN, TO SEE HOW ONE ARRIVES AT
HAVING A GOOD CONSCIENCE.
A. Under the O.T., it was impossible to obtain a good conscience
because the blood of Christ had not been shed. Heb. 9:9,14
B. Now, through obedience in baptism, one may appeal to God for a
good conscience. 1 Pet. 3:21
1. The ASV for the word "answer" has "interrogation" with
footnote: "Or, inquiry Or, appeal." Thus, when one goes
down into the water, he is appealing to God for a good
conscience, for God to wash away all his sins.
2. In the sense of looking back at one's baptism, it is an
"answer" of a good conscience.
3. Jesus shed His blood in His death (John 19:34), and in
baptism one reaches the benefits of His blood by being
baptized into His death. Rom. 6:3-4
4. Hence, the precious blood of Christ and the fulfilled
promise of the remission of sins are both received when one
obeys God's command to be immersed in water.
C. After baptism, every child of God must struggle to maintain a
good conscience.
1. We struggle to maintain a good conscience through diligent
study of the Word of God. 1 Pet. 2:2: Psalm 1:2;
119:9,11,14,16
2. The struggle to maintain a good conscience must continue to
the end.
3. Our struggle will often require strong self-discipline. 1
Cor. 9:27
a. The word, "castaway" is translated in other places as
"reprobate," and means "rejected, not standing the test."
(1) The NKJV uses "disqualified," but we probably
need a stronger word here.
4. The goal of our struggle is to avoid condemnation and to
save our souls.
a. We seek to save our own souls and that of others.
b. Phil. 3:13-14
IV. WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT STRUGGLING TO HAVE A GOOD
CONSCIENCE?
A. If our own hearts condemn us, God will likewise condemn us. 1
John 3:19-21
1. God requires that we maintain a good conscience. 1 Tim. 1:5
2. It is required of deacons. 1 Tim. 3:8-9
3. All must call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart. 2
Tim. 2:22; Matt.5:8
4. Heb. 10:19-22
B. One who does not keep his conscience pure, will not be able to
stand in the evil day (whether it be the day of temptation or
the day of judgment). Eph. 6:13
1. One's mind will become reprobate in kind (one not standing
the test, not approved), he will be unfit to stand the
trails of temptation. Rom. 1:28
C. The moral and spiritual frame of mind (one's conscience) can
become defiled. Titus 1:15-16
1. By grieving (Eph. 4:30), resisting (Acts 7:51), insulting
(Heb. 10:29), lying to (Acts 5:3), and finally quenching (1
Thess. 5:19) the Spirit of God, one's conscience will
ultimately become seared (1 Tim.. 4:2)
2. At this stage, one may be past feeling (Eph. 4:19) even to
the point of sinning openly and without shame (2 Pet. 2:13;
Jer. 6:15; 8:12 ).
V. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STRUGGLING FOR A GOOD CONSCIENCE IN EVERYDAY
LIFE.
A. The initial problem of counting the cost.
1. Will the associations be such as will corrupt good morals? 1
Cor. 15:33
2. Will the business relationship jeopardize my soul? Will it
bring me under an unequal yoke where I will be forced to
compromise the truth? 2 Cor. 6:14
a. Ill. The insurance salesman who went against the policy
of the company to keep quiet about religious matters.
For conscience sake, the salesman did not keep quiet
when asked about spiritual things, and as result he was
fired by the company.
b. Ill. A Christian refused to engage in social drinking and
insisted that he be given a coke left in the bottle.
c. Ill. A butcher refused to tip his scales along with other
butchers in the same super-market chain. He then had to
explain why his profits were always consistently lower
than the others.
3. Each one of us at some time will be tried with the fiery
trials of temptation so we should expect it. 1 Pet. 4:16
B. Some fear being criticized for maintaining moral principles for
conscience sake.
1. The strongest criticism often comes from family.
2. Brethren at times can be very hard to deal with.
C. God's righteousness and truth must occupy first place in the
heart and life of every child of God.
1. This is a timely study in our present materialistic age
where men are selling out to the devil.
2. They are selling out for what?
a. Some for fornication; some for materialistic gains. Heb.
12:15-17
D. Chart here on, "Set your mind on..." (See the chart that
accompanies this sermon)
SET YOUR MIND ON
Things Above Not on Things on the Earth
Deity Self
(Psalm 123:1-2; Heb. 12:1-2) (2 Tim. 3:2; Phil. 3:19)
Heaven Material Things
(2 Cor. 5:1-2; Rev. 21:1-4) (Mark 10:17-23; Matt. 13:22)
Law of the Lord Pleasure
(Rom. 7:22; Psalm 1:1-3) (2 Tim. 3:4; Luke 8:14)
Spiritual Things Pride of Life
(Matt. 6:33; Rom. 12:1-2) (John 5:44; 3 John 9)