THE CONSCIENCE OF MAN I Peter 3:16 I. Introduction. A. One may have a clear conscience: I Timothy 3:9. B. One may have a good conscience: I Peter 3:16. C. How reliable is a conscience? D. If one has a clear conscience, does that imply he is acceptable to God? II. Body. A. What is conscience? 1. Something possessed by every person: some good, some bad. 2. Defined:The power or faculty by which one is guided to certain actions. a. Distinguishes between what individual feels to be right and/or wrong. b. Moral sense(sensitivity). c. What one conforms to in conduct. d. Thayer: "The soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting one to do the former and shun the latter, commending the one; condemning the other." e. Harper: "An inward moral impression of one's actions and principles; the inward faculty of moral judgement; the inward moral and spiritual frame." 3. When the conscience is activated: a. On occasions it is necessary to determine right: Romans 2:15. b. In a provocation to a sense of obligation: Romans 13:5. c. Weighing the merit and/or demerit of a situation: I Peter 2:19. d. Rendering a judgment or decision: I Corinthians 10:25,27. e. Many circumstances often activate. Religious people put much stock in one's conscience. So does God. Problem: God's values and man's values may not be parallel. A. How authoritative is the conscience? 1. Independent of the proper influences, it is dangerous. a. Conscience can be cultivated(or neglected). b. Hence, Paul said: Acts 23:1. (1 Yet, Paul was wrong at one time. (2 The apostle even said: Acts 24:16. 2. When cultivated by the word of God: safe guide. a. Leads to: I Peter 3:21. b. What converted Paul? His conscience or the word of God? B. Just how reliable is it? 1. May err as any other faculty(Paul's led him into wrong!) 2. But when controlled by God's word: reliable: I Timothy 1:5. C. Conscience is not infallible. 1. Can be mistaken(Paul). 2. Note: I Corinthians 8:7. D. Yet--conscience must be followed: Romans 14:23. 1. See necessity of properly cultivating by word of God? 2. Make sure it is: Hebrews 9:14. E. The convictions we hold, which in turn influences conscience, must be based on the word of God. God requires that an individual cultivate his conscience in the right way. This implies there is a wrong way. The influences in a person's life determine the state of his conscience(child who lies, cheats, steal, etc.--might not wound conscience.) A. One may have a good conscience: I Timothy 1:5. 1. One cleansed: Hebrews 10:22. 2. Kind God desires in every person. 3. There is even a good conscience that is wrong: Acts 23:1. 4. Importance of good conscience: II Corinthians 13:5. B. There is a weak conscience: I Corinthians 8:12. 1. One that is easily wounded. 2. This instance: believed wrong to eat meat, influenced to eat. 3. Responsibility: a. Not to wound. b. To try to strengthen. 4. Remember: Romans 14:1. C. There is a defiled conscience: Titus 1:15. 1. What class: defiled in teaching and unbelievers. 2. Those of whom Paul spoke: Titus 1:10. 3. Their attitude: Titus 1:16. 4. Defiled: depraved, stained(see Jude 8). While there are various kinds(?) of conscience, there is one that affects many people: a seared conscience. A. Paul speaks to such: I Timothy 4:2. 1. The Spirit describes them: a. "Fall away from the faith..." b. "Giving heed to seducing spirits..." c. Listening to "doctrines of men..." d. "Through hypocrisy of men that speak lies..." e. Among their teachings: I Timothy 4:3. 2. Literally: "Being cauterized..." a. Effect: insensitive skin(organs). b. Unmoved by righteous appeals! 3. Harper: "To be seared into insensitivity." 4. A parallel: Ephesians 4:19. B. One should be extremely careful to avoid this condition by: 1. Being willing to hear gospel preaching(conscience must be fed and strengthened). 2. Avoid practising anything not found in God's word. 3. Abstain from lusts of flesh. C. One could: 1. Turn his ear from truth so often, it would not affect him: Acts 7:51. 2. Engage in unrighteous conduct until sin takes on a luster. 3. Practise something not in God's word until he assumes it is all right in God's sight(remaining with "liberal" influences). The choice for any person: properly care for one's conscience. A. When one obeys the gospel, the conscience is cleansed and purified. 1. Hebrews 9:13-14, 22. 2. Hence: Hebrews 10:22. 3. Accomplished by: I Peter 3:21. B. After cleansing, keep your conscience as God wants it to be. 1. Tender--avoid searing it: I Timothy 4:2. a. What moves you? b. Nothing colder than an unmoved heart. 2. Vigilant. a. Someone illustrated: flashing lights at RR crossing. b. Will then: Romans 9:1. 3. Enlightened. a. Regarding such matters as eating meats: I Corinthians 8:4,7. b. Hence: I Corinthians 10:31. C. Some advantages of a good, pure conscience. 1. Keeps from sin--by the word of God. 2. Brings joy and satisfaction: II Corinthians 1:12. 3. Grants confidence and power to live right: I John 3:21. III. Conclusion. A. Conscience is a wonderful gift from God: let us learn to cultivate and care for its training. B. Conscience can be your salvation or your condemnation.-jy