LORD’S DAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Hebrews 9:11-22
Acts 23:1

"I have lived in all good conscience
before God until this day."

A SANCTIFIED CONSCIENCE (8)

It is important and vital to have a good conscience before God like Paul who said, "I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day" (Acts 23:1). Without a good conscience we cannot be a good testimony for the Lord nor defend ourselves before our enemies (Acts 23:1; 1 Peter 3:16), nor love others as God commands (1 Tim 1:5), nor fight a good fight of faith (1 Tim 1:18-19). A good conscience before God is one that has been redeemed and cleansed by Jesus’ blood, that is submissive to the Lord and His Word and that is un-offensive to others.

Keep the Conscience Clean and Pure by Jesus’ Blood: Our worship and service are acceptable unto the holy God if our conscence is pure (1 Tim 3:9; 2 Tim 1:3). If we are used to living in a hygienic environment, we shall feel uncomfortable in a smelly room. And if we do not clean up that room or stop living in that room, we shall gradually get used to the smell and will not feel uncomfortable any more. We may even like that smell and miss the smell! In like manner, living in sin without repentance will make our conscience dull, defiled, bad and hardened. Fifty years ago, homosexuality, same-sex marriage and abortion were condemned. But due to moral and spiritual decline without sincere repentance, the human conscience is so dulled and hardened that these abominations have now become an acceptable alternative lifestyle! Fifty years ago, rock music was banned in many fundamental churches, but today many are so used to it that they cannot worship God without it! Therefore, when the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, it is wisest to confess our sin right away, repent and forsake it, and pray for the cleansing in Jesus’ blood (Ps 51; Heb 9:14; 10:22; 1 John 1:7, 9). When Satan accuses us of our confessed sins, we can overcome him by Jesus’ blood (Rev 12:10-11), and not by defending ourselves. To keep our consciences clean and pure, we must separate ourselves not only from sins but also from wrong doctrines, worldliness and even "from all appearance of evil" (1 Thess 5:22) and "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph 5:11). What about you?

THOUGHT: My conscience needs to be purged and sanctified.
PRAYER: Lord, please search, purge and sanctify my conscience.