KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Cite Print
The Blue Letter Bible

Don Stewart :: How Does God Work with Our Conscience?

Choose a new font size and typeface
Don Stewart
It is important to understand the place our conscience has in our Christian experience. The conscience can be defined as that small voice within us instructing us what to do. The Apostle Paul said,

Men and brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day (Acts 23:1).

Small Voice

God spoke to the prophet Elijah through a still small voice that we can identify as his conscience.

And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after a fire a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11,12).

Not Violate

The Bible says we should not violate our conscience.

But the one who doubts is condemned if they eat, because they do not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

If we cannot do something in good conscience, then we should simply not do it.

Subordinate To Scripture

It must be emphasized that the conscience must always be subordinated to the revealed Word of God. Oftentimes people say that they do not feel convicted of committing something that the Bible clearly says is sin. Because their conscience does not bother them they feel that they should continue. However if God has objectively said that a certain act is wrong, then it is wrong. Lack of any convicting feeling does not make the deed right.

Summary

The Bible is our infallible guide to faith and practice. We must not deviate from its teachings. As Martin Luther once proclaimed, My conscience has been taken captive by the Word of God. This also should be our desire.

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
 [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV

Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.