Last week, we discussed how only GOD can redeem an unhealthy conscience. With God as the redeemer of our conscience, the Bible instructs the Christian to take certain steps...all done in a spirit of repentance and submission.

We as Christians can no longer neglect the conscience, or underestimate its value. Romans 13:5 says, "Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience." Or as translated in The Message, "That's why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it's the right way to live." The healthy conscience guides us toward "the right way to live" and (as we discussed before) is necessary to carry out the main aim of our actions as Christians. 1 Timothy 1:5 says, "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

That's why in Acts 24:16, Paul says, "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men" (as translated in the KJV). Having a "good" conscience is hard, deliberate, non-optional work.

But this work must be grounded in Scripture, and the conscience must be constantly checked against the truth of God's Word. In Acts 26:9 Paul said to Agrippa, "I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. " He was sincere in his convictions, and his conscience did not convict him, but he was nevertheless seriously mistaken. His conscience was effectively trained in opposition to Christ, so much that he was zealous in persecuting (killing and imprisoning) the early Christians.

Paul was a Pharisee from a line of Pharisees (Acts 23:6). He was greatly respected and very learned in the Law. But it is easy to see why his conscience was so misguided and evil, given what Christ himself said about the Pharisees (Matthew 23:27 and Luke 18:9-14 are two especially applicable examples for this lesson). We must be honest with ourselves...our consciences may not convict us of sin when perhaps they should! We must constantly examine our consciences based on scripture, and intentionally train and purify our consciences. Paul so effectively purified his conscience that he was transformed from one who killed and imprisoned the early Christians, to identifying himself as "a prisoner for Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 3:1).

Paul gives us a very clear indication of the attitude necessary for this type of transformation. I Tim. 3:9 instructs that a church leader must not only believe the truth, but apply this transforming truth to his own life, holding "the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience." So what does that mean? Barnes' Notes On The Bible says, "A mere orthodox faith was not all that was necessary, for it was possible that a man might be professedly firm in the belief of the truths of revelation, and yet be corrupt at heart." As a Pharisee, Paul's conscience was trained by knowledge of Scripture only experienced through intellect, and he was therefore "corrupt at heart." But through our relationship with Christ, and taking on his identity as our own (through reading and applying scripture, praying, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, etc.), our consciences are clean and pure, guiding us toward "the right way to live."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What can we learn from Acts 26:9, when Paul said to Agrippa, "I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth?"

• Note To Parents: He was sincere in his convictions, and his conscience did not convict him, but he was nevertheless seriously mistaken. His conscience was "well" trained in opposition to Christ, so much that he was zealous in persecuting (killing and imprisoning) the early Christians.

2. What was one likely reason that Paul's conscience was so misguided and evil while persecuting the early church?

• Note To Parents: Paul was a Pharisee from a line of Pharisees (Acts 23:6). In Matthew 23:27, Jesus condemned the Pharisees as "whitewashed tombs," meaning that these men made all appearances of being "professedly firm in the belief of the truths of revelation, and yet [were] corrupt at heart." In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus highlights the Pharisees' knowledge of Scripture only experienced through intellect, and how they are not justified before God. As a Pharisee, Paul's conscience was trained by knowledge of Scripture only experienced through intellect, and he was therefore "corrupt at heart."

3. So what attitude is necessary for transformation (cleansing and purification) of conscience?

• Note To Parents: Paul gives us a very clear indication of the attitude necessary for this type of transformation. I Tim. 3:9 instructs that a church leader must not only believe the truth, but apply this transforming truth to his own life, holding "the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience." So what does that mean? Barnes' Notes On The Bible says, "A mere orthodox faith was not all that was necessary, for it was possible that a man might be professedly firm in the belief of the truths of revelation, and yet be corrupt at heart." As a Pharisee, Paul's conscience was trained by knowledge of Scripture only experienced through intellect, and he was therefore "corrupt at heart." But through our relationship with Christ (through reading and applying scripture, praying, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, etc.), our consciences are clean and pure, guiding us toward "the right way to live."

GOD BLESS YOUR MINISTRY TO YOUR TEEN!

I am always available to each of you.

Mike Childress