CONSCIENCE CAN FAIL
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Conscience
a) The influence that motivates us to obey God is conscience. The conscience is that faculty of human nature which "knows to refuse evil and choose good" (Isaiah 7:15-16).
Isaiah 7:15-16
15 He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. 16 For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.
b) The boy spoken of in the passage above has the same human nature as all human beings, and what is true of him is true of us all. You will notice that it would take some time for this boy to grow from a new born baby to a boy able to know right from wrong. However a time would come when his conscience had learned enough to know the difference, and to make choices accordingly.
c) Conscience imparts to the human being a sense of "ought" — which we sometimes jokingly refer to as the little man on your shoulder who whispers in your ear. It is really a part of your inner self, influencing you to obey God and to refuse evil.
2. Conscience Can Fail
a) Consciences is not the final judge. "I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted, but the one who examines me is the Lord" (1 Corinthians 4:4).
b) For example, there will be people on judgment day who will find their consciences have failed (Matthew 7:21-23).
c) Here is a list of some things that can go wrong. But be aware that these things only happen when the owner of the conscience willingly allows them to:
i) Conscience can be misguided, as with Paul (Acts 26:9).
ii) Conscience can be defiled (1 Corinthians 8:7, Titus 1:15-16).
iii) Conscience can be seared — it can become insensitive (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
iv) Conscience may be morbid as with Judas who hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5).
v) Conscience can be made ineffective, and when people do that to their conscience by persistent rebellion, "it is impossible to renew them to repentance" (Hebrews 6:4-6).
vi) So we should seek the fruits of the Spirit and "walk by the Spirit" rather than following the passions and desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-26).
The End ...
1. Consciencea) The influence that motivates us to obey God is conscience. The conscience is that faculty of human nature which "knows to refuse evil and choose good" (Isaiah 7:15-16).
Isaiah 7:15-16
15 He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. 16 For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.
b) The boy spoken of in the passage above has the same human nature as all human beings, and what is true of him is true of us all. You will notice that it would take some time for this boy to grow from a new born baby to a boy able to know right from wrong. However a time would come when his conscience had learned enough to know the difference, and to make choices accordingly.
c) Conscience imparts to the human being a sense of "ought" — which we sometimes jokingly refer to as the little man on your shoulder who whispers in your ear. It is really a part of your inner self, influencing you to obey God and to refuse evil.
2. Conscience Can Fail
a) Consciences is not the final judge. "I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted, but the one who examines me is the Lord" (1 Corinthians 4:4).
b) For example, there will be people on judgment day who will find their consciences have failed (Matthew 7:21-23).
c) Here is a list of some things that can go wrong. But be aware that these things only happen when the owner of the conscience willingly allows them to:
i) Conscience can be misguided, as with Paul (Acts 26:9).
ii) Conscience can be defiled (1 Corinthians 8:7, Titus 1:15-16).
iii) Conscience can be seared — it can become insensitive (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
iv) Conscience may be morbid as with Judas who hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5).
v) Conscience can be made ineffective, and when people do that to their conscience by persistent rebellion, "it is impossible to renew them to repentance" (Hebrews 6:4-6).
vi) So we should seek the fruits of the Spirit and "walk by the Spirit" rather than following the passions and desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-26).
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