A CRUCIAL CONSCIENCE ROSS SMITH
ALL REFERENCES FROM THE AMPLIFIED VERSION UNLESS NOTED.
TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING AND NOT DO IT IS DISHONEST.
Why am I addressing this subject? I have an uncomfortable sensation in my spirit that the Lord is disappointed in our lack of appreciation of the great responsibility and opportunity we have been afforded and that there is still a regular and persistent reverting to “PREFERENCE.” In this case, convenience is being selected ahead of conformity, preference ahead of performance and sanctification of suffering at the hands of the “self.”
CONSCIENCE IS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY – NO CONSCIENCE EQUALS NO CARE.I have been contemplating what it takes for us as God’s people to truly become “His church” and found that Peter had covered this thought in his epistle.
1 Peter 3:21 And baptism, (Our obedience to this ordinance is for our renewal .. comments mine) which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], (This often consists of one of two things, “Silent debate”, which we are well aware of, but secondly, THE SUPPRESSION OF OUR CONSCIENCE WHERE WE KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT TO DO, BUT DON’T DO IT .. comments mine) not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because YOU ARE DEMONSTRATING WHAT YOU BELIEVE to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 1:19 Holding fast to faith (that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and HAVING A GOOD (CLEAR) CONSCIENCE. By rejecting and thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made SHIPWRECK of their faith.
To have a human personality that is “ENTIRE” (Hebrews 10:22) requires a “GOOD CLEAR CONSCIENCE.”
A SHIPWRECK is defined as “an irretrievable loss or failure” (Merriam Webster), an apt description of the state of a person who is not true to their CONSCIENCE. It is just a HULK, an outline of what was intended to be a majestic ocean liner but now devoid of any virtue that recommends it to the sea. That’s what a poor conscience produces.
When addressing the Romans, Paul assumed they had a good conscience; otherwise, he would have worded Romans 13:3 (B) differently.
Romans 13:3 For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behaviour. (Such as those who engage as “Conspiracy Theorists .. comments mine) Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right, and you will receive his approval and commendation.
PREFERENCE DOES NOT CONSULT WITH CONSCIENCE.
This (Romans 13:3) assumes that the person’s conscience is alive and well. Our conscience is our moral muscle and is fuelled by our values and principles; it sets the standard of right and wrong; it is the application of right and wrong, not the source of the principle.
Paul goes on to describe in Romans 2:15, “the ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS (The “learn to sense what is VITAL” Philippians 1:10) of the Law are written in their hearts and are operating there, (Under the following conditions .. comments mine) with which THEIR CONSCIENCES (sense of right and wrong) also bear witness.”
Paul sets a great example of how “Conscience” works in chapter 9:1, “My conscience [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit bearing witness with me.” Turn off your conscience, and you turn off the Holy Spirit. The Bible strictly warns against this, “1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit.”
My meditation has fuelled my interest in this matter as to the veracity of the true body of Christ, which Father intends to develop by a people of a single mind, called “Oneness” in Ephesians 4, everyone accepting the same “RESPONSIBILITIES” to bring this promise to reality.
“Oneness” is not limited to a particular doctrine or an isolated principle but is across the board and is intended that every individual member reflects the nature of Him Whom they serve and evidence the meticulous attention to detail God applies to every aspect of nature and do it faithfully and “CONSCIENTIOUSLY.”
The “Oneness” or alignment of conscience is due to the fact that it is the same Holy Spirit who operates in and through God’s people, stating and reinforcing the same requirements and reiterating the principles of God’s Word that is our guide and bottom line. To achieve “ONENESS”, each member must have a good, clear, active conscience.
We not only have to be pedantic and promptly responsive to our own conscience but also so guard and nurture it so that we do not adversely influence someone else’s conscience. What I mean is that if we know that we should not speed, or should not visit, or should not demand our own way, or know we should not be late in any way, etc., then Paul again rails against this, stating that we can, by our behaviour, endorse same or similar tardiness in others. See what he says, ”wounding and damaging their weak conscience, YOU SIN AGAINST CHRIST.” (1 Corinthians 8:12)
1 Corinthians 10:29 I mean for the sake of his conscience, not yours, [do not eat it]. For why should another man’s scruples apply to me, and my liberty of action be determined by his conscience?
If we “override” our conscience, that is, in fact, the cauterising of it, and Timothy doesn’t pull any punches in describing the character of such people. Hypocrisy consists of double-mindedness, and pretensions are those things that constitute “a form of Godliness.” “CAUTERISING” often occurs in “the heat of the moment;” we “Know what is right but ignore it.”
1 Timothy 4:2 Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterised),
TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING AND NOT DO IT IS DISHONEST.
In simple terms, these people are being “PRESUMPTUOUS,” living in denial, avoiding the responsibility, fooling themselves as James says, But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. (James 1:22)
The ongoing and oft-repeated principle of “doing everything decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40) forms an integral part of our “Functioning conscience” and to either ignore or neglect the responsibility of ensuring that our “orderliness” is implemented by us and observed by others, is no longer an option, but an imperative.
If our “CONSCIENCE” is damaged or ignored in one area, it has a crippling effect on the whole. That “damage” to one leg creates instability, improper spiritual gait or walk, affects stamina and endurance, invokes frequent down-sitting and uprisings, and creates a lag in progress and potential for a detour.
We cannot have a healthy conscience unless it is continually refreshed by understanding God’s Word. Our conscience will point us to the “EXPEDIENTS” because we are fully aware of the legal and illegal.
We cauterise our conscience every time we repeat the same mistake, and that is a black-and-white fact, “That which is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23 goes to some lengths to explain this, so I will insert the scripture so that it is not overlooked.
Romans 14:23 But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions (convictions of his conscience .. comments mine) and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [WHATEVER IS DONE WITHOUT A CONVICTION OF ITS APPROVAL BY GOD IS SINFUL].
One of the underlying principles of a “good and clear conscience” that Paul speaks about so regularly, stating, “doing my duty with a perfectly good conscience until this very day” and again, “to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offence toward God and toward men.”
Matthew points out that if we are looking at things from the wrong perspective, he calls it “an unsound eye”, the outcome or result is the light goes out in our conscience, and it is darkened, not just dimmed, but “densely”. (Matthew 6:23)
“Dereliction of duty”, in whatever form or shape it takes, is an exhibition of an aberration of conscience, an avoidance of responsibility, and reproach on the name of Christ.
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Ross Smith 