“Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: ‘Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me…’”

“‘…But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men’” (NKJV).

I. Meaning of the Word “Conscience.” From Gr. sunoida “to know-with” something. First applied to a witness in court. Reflexive sense of knowing one’s self. “Testimony” of the “conscience” (2 Cor. 1:12). Thoughts “accuse” or “excuse” regarding one’s behavior (Rom. 2:15). NT Gr. suneidesis “knowing-with [one’s self],” = Latin conscientia “knowledge-with [one’s self].”

I. Meaning of the Word “Conscience.” The “Heart” and the “Conscience.” “Pure heart” can approach God in worship (Psalm 24:3-4). David prays “create in me a clean heart” (Psalm 51:10). The heart can be “troubled” (1 Samuel 24:4-5). “Stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord” (2 Chronicles 36:13). NT heart and conscience in juxtaposition (1 Timothy 1:3-7).

II. Conviction and Defilement of the Conscience. A. One may be “convicted” by the conscience (John 8:7-9). 1. Luke calls this being “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). B. Following the conscience does not make one right with God. One can be condemned in what he approves (Romans 14:22). 1. Paul lived in “good conscience” persecuting the church (Acts 23:1). 2. It is always sin to go against one’s conscience.

II. Conviction and Defilement of the Conscience. C. Violating one’s conscience leads … 1. To a conscience that is “defiled” (Titus 1:15). 2. To a conscience that is “seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). 3. Our faith to suffer “shipwreck” (1 Timothy 1:19). D. Christians must maintain a “pure conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:3).

III. Romans & 1 Corinthians on the Conscience. A. Romans: Jewish background. 1. Chapter fourteen addresses foods and observance of Mosaic holy days (Rom. 14:1-7). In Christ they are no longer obligations (Colossians 2:16-17). “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself” (Romans 14:14a). 2. Not matters of human imagination—but indifference before God.

III. Romans & 1 Corinthians on the Conscience. A. Romans: Jewish background. 3. A Christian may not compel someone to violate his conscience (Romans 14:11-22). 4. One should be “fully convinced in his own mind” (14:5). It is always sin to violate our own conscience, or compel someone to violate his or her conscience (Romans 14:23).

III. Romans & 1 Corinthians on the Conscience. B. First Corinthians: Pagan Background (1 Corinthians 8:4-10). 1. A Christian might “wound their weak conscience, and sin against Christ” (1 Corinthians 8:12). 2. Showing respect for conscience (1 Corinthians 10:24-33).

IV. The Conscience and Obedience to the Gospel. A. Obedience to the Gospel allows one to be able to have a “good conscience” (Hebrews 10:19-22). 1. “Hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” (10: 22a). The blood of Christ can “cleanse” the conscience from “dead works” (Heb. 9:13-14). 2. “Bodies washed with pure water” (10:22b). The Bible tells us baptism is an “appeal to God for a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:18-22, NASB).

IV. The Conscience and Obedience to the Gospel. B. Having been forgiven of sins, and striving to live obedient to Christ, Christians should always live with a “good conscience” (Hebrews 13:17-18). 1. We must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:26-29).

IV. The Conscience and Obedience to the Gospel. C. It is commendable before God to suffer wrongfully “because of conscience toward God” (1 Peter 2:18-23). 1. Those who persecute us for keeping a good conscience will be caused to be ashamed on the Day of Judgment (1 Peter 3:15-17). 2. Paul commends himself “to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Cor. 4:2). 3. We must strive to have, “a conscience without offense towards God and man” (Acts 24:16).