Having a Clear Conscience

Value of a clear conscience
•         Confidence when wrongly accused
•         Avoid a “shipwrecked” life
•         Ability to genuinely love people
•         Access to the presence of God

Understanding our conscience
•         Awakening to conscience
•         Awareness of past attitudes & actions
•         Accountability to God…conviction

Attempts to appease…
–        Remorse (eg. Judas)
–        Sacrifice (moral/religious obligations)
–        Confession and turning to Christ

Gaining a clear conscience
“…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience…”

Gaining and maintaining a clear conscience in Christ is essential to being able to have healthy relationships with God and others.  If our consciences are burdened/smitten/laden with guilt, it affects how we interact with others.  There is tremendous value/worth/freedom/joy in having a clear conscience.  I want people to desire to have and keep a clear conscience and to know that it is only possible in vital connection with Christ.  His blood alone is sufficient to cleanse our guilty consciences and to be the basis of our forgiveness before God.  When our conscience is clear before God we are able to move in a healthy way into relationships with others.