Conscience

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 487.

It was the tree of the “knowledge” of good and evil. We have already pointed out that this does not mean that they knew nothing about right and wrong. They knew it was right to eat any of the tress but that it was wrong to eat the one prohibited tree.

But now, they inherently recognized that there are many other right and wrong issues.

Their consciences were corrupt and need cleansing and protection. But this understanding comes with corruption and thus cannot be fully trusted. Yet, God expects us to not rebel against what we believe is right. We will be accountable for it.

Rom 2:15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

It can be defiled and needs to be protected and cleansed.

Heb 9: 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Heb 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Even in its corrupted state, God is pleased by our efforts to keep it clean and clear.

Rom 14:22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.