A Good Conscience

            Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good                 conscience [suneidesis – the faculty of the soul which distinguishes between right and wrong]                 before God until this day."                         Acts 23:1

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.                 Hebrews 13:18

Conscience signifies knowledge in conjunction with, in conjunction with an action or decision to act. It is two sets of knowledge, often competing against each other: divine law versus one’s own action. It may be defined as the judgment which a man passes on the morality of his actions, as to their purity or impurity, or the testimony of the soul to approve good things and condemn those that are evil.

Conscience is the awareness that a proposed act is or is not conformable to one's ideal of right or wrong, and it manifests itself in a feeling of obligation or duty. The Old Testament expresses this idea as: "In the integrity of your heart you have done this" (see Genesis 20:5-6). Conscience is not so much a distinct faculty of the mind, like perception or memory, but an exercise of judgment with reference to moral truth. It implies the sense of discerning good and evil (Hebrews 5:14) and a feeling of responsibility. Thus, it will appear wrong to name conscience "the voice of God," although the testimony of conscience rests on the foundation of a divine law in man; its claims and judgments are removed from his subjective control. Since man is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), he has been given a divine sense of righteousness and unrighteousness.

If a man knows his doing to be in harmony with this law, his conscience is good, pure, and void of offense. If what he does is evil, so also is his conscience, as it is conscious of such evil. It is defiled when it is stained by evil deeds or seared with a branding iron when it is branded with its evil deeds, made insensible to all feeling (1 Timothy 4:2). Paul lays down the law that a man should follow his own conscience, even though it might be weak. Otherwise, moral personality is destroyed.

Laws Written on Human Hearts

"FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:  I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.                      Hebrews 8:10

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.                     Romans 2:14-16

The old covenant was initiated by 613 laws given to Moses on Sinai, written on and signified by tablets of stone, and enforced on the people by the leadership as defined by the Lord. Its success or failure is measured by the follower's outward actions in conforming to its authority in his life. The new covenant is different: the laws of God are written on the human heart and administered from within by the Holy Spirit. The new covenant emphasizes the motives behind actions rather than the actions themselves. According to the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, rewards are determined by motive and not the work: Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality [hopoios – manner] of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. God’s reward system, administered to Christian believers at the judgment seat of Christ, tests each work by fire to determine what each man’s work is made of.

When one who is a Gentile, not Jewish, with no religious foundation regarding the God of the Bible, comes to accept God’s laws as authoritative in his life, he is a believer through Jesus Christ. This results from a decision of the heart that directly affects his conscience, causing the new believer to wrestle with his personal desires versus his enlightened conscience as he establishes a godly life and confirms God's desires for his life. Conscience is an important part of human nature, but it is not an absolutely trustworthy indicator of what is right. As the believer grows in his understanding of God's character and nature, his conscience is progressively formed by God's standards, not his own or the norms and standards of his environment.

Perfect in Conscience

The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place [the Holy of Holies – signifies God’s presence] has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly, both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place [in heaven] once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?             Hebrews 9:8-14

The book of Hebrews gives the reader definition regarding certain distinctions between the old covenant and the work of Christ in introducing the new covenant. In the passage above, the Holy Spirit makes clear that the rules and regulations of the old covenant could not perfect the conscience because it depended on the believer's efforts. A perfect conscience requires eternal redemption; Christ accomplished it on behalf of each one who believes in His blood. The blood of goats and bulls could only cleanse the believer outwardly, of the flesh, while the blood of Christ can cleanse the conscience from dead works to serve the living God. This means that His blood, representing the perfect sacrifice, has freed the believer from the obligations of the old covenant to serve God as one who is no longer ceremonially unclean. The ceremonially unclean could not serve God in the outward communion of His people. The unrenewed cannot serve God in spiritual communion. The blood of Christ provides full access to God, to serve Him in newness of life.

Sanctify Christ as Lord 

but sanctify [hagiazo – regard as holy] Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense [apologia – give an answer] to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope [elpis – confident expectation] that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.               1 Peter 3:15-16

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.                           Hebrews 5:13-14

When Peter wrote these words in 1 Peter 3:15, he had in mind Isaiah 8:13: “It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread. When the believer accepts Christ as Lord, he recognizes Jesus as his highest priority. When you have fear and dread for the Lord, you need not fear anyone else. Isaiah compared the Lord to a sanctuary, a rock that is a refuge for believers but a snare to those who rebel.

Setting Christ as Lord is a decision of the heart to make Him supreme in all decisions, as a subject always considers the authority of his king. This foundation of the heart is always prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks, with gentleness and reverence. It also empowers the believer to withstand any who would revile his godly behavior. The Word of God (meat, not just milk) plays a vital role in training us to discern good and evil. The Word of God trains the conscience and strengthens it to represent a holy God in a fallen world.

In Simplicity & Singleness of Mind

For our proud confidence [kauchesis – boasting] is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness [haplotes – simplicity, singleness of heart] and godly sincerity [eilikrineia – purity, sincerity], not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.                       2 Corinthians 1:12 

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.                      Titus 1:15 

Paul addresses the issue of the testimony of our conscience and his motives directly. He affirmed with confidence that the moral foundation of his conscience, strengthened by his knowledge of God's Word, was his firm foundation for his conduct. It was with a singleness of heart instead of holiness that Paul alluded to the simplicity in the sense of single-mindedness. His conduct was in sincerity and purity of purpose that could stand the closest scrutiny. His conduct was not in keeping with worldly wisdom, which is ultimately self-serving. Instead, it was according to God's grace, as he was guided by a love for others and sought what was in their best interests. As a representative of God's purity, Paul pursued purity and supreme honesty not only for his own faith, but to influence the followers of Christ he was given. 

The Talmud teaches that the ancient patriarchs were all prophets, and that each left testaments for their descendants, including warnings to their children, moral lessons, and prophecy. Fragments of these records have been found in the Dead Sea scrolls. Below are the testimonies of three of Jacob's sons, as well as Noah himself, that speak to this subject: 

My children, remember the commandments of the Lord. Single-mindedly follow the truth, for the hypocrites receive twofold punishment. Hate the spirits of error that strive against men. Keep the law of the Lord, and do not practice evil with good. Practice only good, and keep all of the commandments of the Lord. Conduct your lives by Him and rest in Him.    Testament of Asher

“When I grew up, I walked in uprightness of heart, and I became a husbandman for my parents and my brothers. I brought in fruits from the field in their season. My father blessed me, for he saw that I walked in simplicity. I was not a busybody, malicious, nor slanderous. I never spoke against anyone, nor did I criticize anyone, but walked in simplicity”…   Testament of Issachar

“The mind of the good man is not under the power of the deceit of the spirit of Belial, for the angel of peace guides his soul. He does not gaze passionately on corruptible things, not hoard riches for his own pleasure, hurt his neighbor, pamper himself with food, or err in pride, for the Lord is his portion. The good mind does not dwell on the glory or dishonor of men. He does not practice guile, lying, fighting, or reviling. The Lord dwells with him and lights up his soul, and he rejoices with all men. The good mind is not hypocritical. It does not bless and curse, insult and honor, or spread sorrow and joy”…                     Testament of Benjamin

From my birth, my mother taught me in the ways of righteousness. My whole life I walked in the truth of the Holy One as He had instructed. I kept away from the paths of deceit which lead to eternal darkness. I studied the visions of truth and wisdom, praying ceaselessly, and avoided the paths of violence. Even after becoming an adult, I continued in righteousness, grew in wisdom…                 Testament of Noah

According to 2 Corinthians 11:3, Paul wrote to the Corinthians that just as the serpent's craftiness deceived Eve, any mind can be led astray. It is the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ that maintains a good conscience within each believer: But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

A Weak Conscience

However, not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.                           1 Corinthians 8:7-13

The conscience of a weak Christian is easily defiled, wounded, and offended. For this reason, stronger saints must defer to weaker saints and be careful not to do anything that would harm them. Sharing a feast in an idolatrous temple might not harm the mature saint, but it might harm his weaker brother. 1 Corinthians 8:10 warns that the immature believer might imitate his stronger brother and be led into sin. The stronger believer defers to the weaker believer in love only so that he might help him to maturity. He does not pamper him; he seeks to edify him, to help him grow. Otherwise, both will become weak.

We are free in Christ, but we must take care that our spiritual knowledge is tempered by love, and that we do not tempt the weaker Christian to run ahead of his conscience. Where knowledge is balanced by love, the strong Christian will have a ministry to the weak Christian, and the weak Christian will grow and become strong.

A Seared Conscience

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.                          1 Timothy 4:1-3

The above passage warns that there may come a time when conscience no longer provides clear and present clarity about right and wrong, and the individual becomes unrestrained and no longer concerned about the truth. He is deceived and can no longer discern the truth from a lie.

Noahide Laws 

The Noahide Laws are seven ancient laws many people view as the basis of civilized society. They govern morality and represent the "bare minimum" of what God expects of humanity. They are called the "Noahide" laws because they are thought to have been given in their fullness to Noah after the flood. According to the Talmud, there were seven moral laws to govern the nations after the flood, and they are the foundation of the Law of Moses. Many years later, God would establish a special nation (Israel) with special laws, ceremonies, and a priesthood. When the Messiah came, He established a new covenant that would fulfill not only the Law of Moses but also the Noahide laws, sufficient for both the true Jew and the Gentile. They include:

1. Do not deny God (abstain from idolatry).
2. Do not blaspheme.
3. Do not murder.
4. Do not engage in sexual immorality.
5. Do not steal.
6. Establish courts and legal systems to ensure obedience of these laws
7. Do not eat a live animal (no eating flesh taken from an animal while it is still alive).