THE CONSCIENCE STRUGGLE

By David J. Riggs

Intro.               
   A. In this lesson we want to make a study regarding the           
      conscience.
   B. There is a constant struggle that goes on in every Christian as
      regards to the conscience.
      1. There is the struggle for self-praise and worth by the
         conscience; that is, doing what one knows he ought to do.
         Rom. 14:22b
      2. There is the struggle to have a clear conscience regarding
         those things which are evil. Acts 24:16

I. FIRST, LET'S DEFINE WHAT THE CONSCIENCE IS.
   A. Literally, from the Latin, the word "conscience" is derived    
      from: the prefix con (with, together), and science (to know).  
      Hence, it is a "knowing together with oneself."
      1. The Greek word, suneidesis carries the same meaning.
         a. On the word, Thayer says, "The soul as distinguishing
            between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do
            the former, and shunning the latter, commending the
            one, condemning the other."
         b. Rom. 2:15
   B. Though the word "conscience" is not used in the O.T., the
      presence of it is affirmed.
      1. Gen. 3:7,10 - when Adam and Eve hid themselves.
      2. 2 Sam. 24:10 - David's heart smote him. ("heart condemned
         him" NKJV)

II. THE CONSCIENCE IS NOT A GUIDE.
   A. The conscience that is within each of us works as a judge, not 
      as  the guide.
      1. Many times we hear people say, "Just let your conscience be
         your guide" or "As long as one follows his conscience he is
         safe" or "As long as one is sincere he is all right."
      2. The fact that one's conscience is good, or that he is       
         sincere, does not necessarily make him right.
         a. A pagan believing in the existence of idol gods has a
            good conscience and is very sincere in worshiping idols.
            Nevertheless, this does not make him right. Acts 17:16-
            17; 19:26-18
         b. An orthodox Jew denies that Jesus is the Son of God
            and does so with a good conscience. John 8:22-24
   B. Our consciences tell us what is right or wrong in relation to  
      our standard.
      1. God's word teaches that one should act in harmony with his
         conscience, but the conscience must have the proper
         standard, the Word of God.
      2. One's training and environment might lead him to believe
         error with a good conscience.
         a. He might also be very sincere in the practice of error,
            but these things alone do not make him right.
         b. One can be sincerely wrong. "Anyone can be honestly
            mistaken, but when he is confronted with the truth, he
            either ceases to be mistaken or ceases to be honest."
   C. It is not enough, therefore, to be sincere with a good         
      conscience. One must also have the right standard, the Word of 
      God.

III. LET'S EXAMINE THE STANDARD, THEN, TO SEE HOW ONE ARRIVES AT     
   HAVING A GOOD CONSCIENCE.
   A. Under the O.T., it was impossible to obtain a good conscience
      because the blood of Christ had not been shed. Heb. 9:9,14
   B. Now, through obedience in baptism, one may appeal to God for a
      good conscience. 1 Pet. 3:21
      1. The ASV for the word "answer" has "interrogation" with
         footnote: "Or, inquiry Or, appeal." Thus, when one goes
         down into the water, he is appealing to God for a good
         conscience, for God to wash away all his sins.
      2. In the sense of looking back at one's baptism, it is an
         "answer" of a good conscience.
      3. Jesus shed His blood in His death (John 19:34), and in
         baptism one reaches the benefits of His blood by being
         baptized into His death. Rom. 6:3-4
      4. Hence, the precious blood of Christ and the fulfilled       
         promise of the remission of sins are both received when one 
         obeys God's command to be immersed in water. 
   C. After baptism, every child of God must struggle to maintain a
      good conscience.
      1. We struggle to maintain a good conscience through diligent
         study of the Word of God. 1 Pet. 2:2: Psalm 1:2;
         119:9,11,14,16
      2. The struggle to maintain a good conscience must continue to
         the end.
      3. Our struggle will often require strong self-discipline. 1   
         Cor. 9:27
         a. The word, "castaway" is translated in other places as
            "reprobate," and means "rejected, not standing the test."
            (1) The NKJV uses "disqualified," but we probably
                need a stronger word here.
      4. The goal of our struggle is to avoid condemnation and to
         save our souls.
         a. We seek to save our own souls and that of others.
         b. Phil. 3:13-14

IV. WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT STRUGGLING TO HAVE A GOOD       
   CONSCIENCE?
   A. If our own hearts condemn us, God will likewise condemn us. 1
      John 3:19-21
      1. God requires that we maintain a good conscience. 1 Tim. 1:5
      2. It is required of deacons. 1 Tim. 3:8-9
      3. All must call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart. 2
         Tim. 2:22; Matt.5:8
      4. Heb. 10:19-22
   B. One who does not keep his conscience pure, will not be able to
      stand in the evil day (whether it be the day of temptation or  
      the day of judgment). Eph. 6:13
      1. One's mind will become reprobate in kind (one not standing
         the test, not approved), he will be unfit to stand the      
         trails of temptation. Rom. 1:28
   C. The moral and spiritual frame of mind (one's conscience) can
      become defiled. Titus 1:15-16
      1. By grieving (Eph. 4:30), resisting (Acts 7:51), insulting
         (Heb. 10:29), lying to (Acts 5:3), and finally quenching (1
         Thess. 5:19) the Spirit of God, one's conscience will
         ultimately become seared (1 Tim.. 4:2)
      2. At this stage, one may be past feeling (Eph. 4:19) even to  
         the point of sinning openly and without shame (2 Pet. 2:13; 
         Jer. 6:15; 8:12 ).

V. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STRUGGLING FOR A GOOD CONSCIENCE IN EVERYDAY 
   LIFE.
   A. The initial problem of counting the cost. 
      1. Will the associations be such as will corrupt good morals? 1
         Cor. 15:33
      2. Will the business relationship jeopardize my soul? Will it
         bring me under an unequal yoke where I will be forced to
         compromise the truth? 2 Cor. 6:14
         a. Ill. The insurance salesman who went against the policy
            of the company to keep quiet about religious matters.
            For conscience sake, the salesman did not keep quiet
            when asked about spiritual things, and as result he was
            fired by the company.
         b. Ill. A Christian refused to engage in social drinking and
            insisted that he be given a coke left in the bottle.
         c. Ill. A butcher refused to tip his scales along with other
            butchers in the same super-market chain. He then had to
            explain why his profits were always consistently lower
            than the others.
      3. Each one of us at some time will be tried with the fiery    
         trials of temptation so we should expect it. 1 Pet. 4:16
   B. Some fear being criticized for maintaining moral principles for
      conscience sake.
      1. The strongest criticism often comes from family.
      2. Brethren at times can be very hard to deal with.
   C. God's righteousness and truth must occupy first place in the   
      heart and life of every child of God. 
      1. This is a timely study in our present materialistic age     
         where men are selling out to the devil.
      2. They are selling out for what?
         a. Some for fornication; some for materialistic gains. Heb.
            12:15-17
   D. Chart here on, "Set your mind on..." (See the chart that
      accompanies this sermon)

                 SET YOUR MIND ON

Things Above                     Not on Things on the Earth
   
Deity                            Self
(Psalm 123:1-2; Heb. 12:1-2)     (2 Tim. 3:2; Phil. 3:19)

Heaven                           Material Things
(2 Cor. 5:1-2; Rev. 21:1-4)      (Mark 10:17-23; Matt. 13:22)

Law of the Lord                  Pleasure
(Rom. 7:22; Psalm 1:1-3)         (2 Tim. 3:4; Luke 8:14)

Spiritual Things                 Pride of Life
(Matt. 6:33; Rom. 12:1-2)        (John 5:44; 3 John 9)