A Conscience Void of Offence
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Into: In this passage, we see the high priest Ananias and this orator Tertullus bringing accusations against Paul before Felix, the governor of Caesarea. Those accusation include calling Paul a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition and the ringleader of the Nazarenes. There claim is that they would have judged him accordingly if he had not been taken from them violently.
Into: In this passage, we see the high priest Ananias and this orator Tertullus bringing accusations against Paul before Felix, the governor of Caesarea. Those accusation include calling Paul a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition and the ringleader of the Nazarenes. There claim is that they would have judged him accordingly if he had not been taken from them violently.
We see that in Paul’s response he states his desired goal. Which is to have always “a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Paul is saying that he desired for his life to be a pattern for every believer to live in such a way that none can honestly accuse of wrongdoing. Paul wanted his life to bring glory to God.
A Right Conscience: What is it?
There is only two times in our Bible prior to our text here today that we see the word used...
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
We see it 26 times after the event of chapter 23-24 and we see it used in ways like this...
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Paul frequently brings to mind this idea of conscience and the importance of having a clear or good conscience.
What a conscience isn’t: It isn’t Jiminy Cricket, it isn’t a feeling, or a voice. Some would say that it is self awareness, or to know ones self, but it is was just about me, knowing me, wouldn’t I deceive myself into always having a good conscience?
What it is: I’d like us to consider our conscience this morning like a window. A window that lets light shine in upon the heart of man. The light in which reveals the darkness of mans heart and is the true revealer of the manner and motive of man.
Conscience is the inner faculty that is a witness between my spirit with the Spirit of God. We find that it acts in one of two ways, it either approves that which is right, or it accuses in that which is wrong.
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Man will be judged based on the basis of what he knows. However man is not saved on that basis, for non can perfectly keep the the law of God.
The Good Conscience:
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
It has been said that there is no softer pillow than a pure conscience. A good conscience is sensitive to things that are both acceptable, and unacceptable to God. A good conscience is developed, and we find it’s development through grace.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Grace that saves, through showing man his need, and the Saviour that died for him, continues that work after salvation, creating man a holy disposition.
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
The Defiled Conscience:
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
The man in which is defiled in conscience is a man whose window has shut out the light of truth.
Let me ask you, is that a conscience that you would consider a guide worth following?
The Evil Conscience:
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Our evil conscience was the result of sin… And let me also say, that a good conscience can deteriorate because of sin.
The Seared Conscience:
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
This conscience is so limited in its ability to “feel” the conviction of God, that this person departs from the truth and accepts erroneous doctrine.
How Do We Develop a Right Conscience: Vs. 16 “Herein do I exercise myself”
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Having a sincere desire both to serve and please the Lord.
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
I have a goal for my life, and if fact I have a goal for my ministry… That it will please Christ. Hear me please… It is not a list of rules because that will not please Him, what pleases Him is holy living. That being said, as His word gives us principles to live by, we each have the liberty to create guidelines which help us follow His word.
Exercise Requires Discipline:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
First and foremost no man has the right to stand here behind this pulpit or any other pulpit and preach or teach the words of this book without first allowing the word of God, by the Spirit to thoroughly examine and work in his own heart. And for one to do that would be seen as a castaway...
In addition, Paul was willing to sacrifice things... that listen, were not necessarily wrong or evil but they were things which might hinder the work of Christ. Laying aside in order to be effective for Christ. Paul said that he was all things to all men, so that may also include doing something in order to be effective for Christ.
No one looses weight accidentally, and no one develops a good conscience accidentally. It requires regular disciplined living to maintain this great God given tool for godly living.
The Display of a Right Conscience: Void of offence...
Toward God:
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
The Christian life is a relationship. We are separated from the world and separated unto God. Every relationship generates laws consistent with the one to whom we relating to. Since God looks on our heart, He knows whether our outward performance matches our true desires. If our heart is not right, then our outward behaviour will not be right for very long.
So, the standard is not the goal - Christ is the goal!
Toward Man:
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Does our life point others to Christ? We all make mistakes, but even through our mistakes, we can point others to Christ… I never want my liberty to hinder the conscience of others.
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
There is a principle here of voluntarily separating from things that are not inherently sinful for the sake of maintaining out conscience toward others. I never want to be guilty of insisting on a “liberty issue” in which others might stumble by my actions. And listen, that goes for what I don’t do, but also what I do.
Listen parents, I never want my children to stumble because of me. My lack of concern for the things of God, or my lack of desire for the things of God will hurt my children. If I raise children and they see in me little desire to be at church, or I set the bar low for church attendance, I complain about people rather love people, I am concerned with myself rather than investing in others, I understand that my children will have a hurdle in this life to overcome. I should understand that they may never overcome it, or worse, that they reject God, because of my hypocrisy.
Paul’s desire for a good conscience was first to God, but secondly it was to man, that he would speak the truth, and man would hear it. So that by it, they would either be convicted to change or to be saved.
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Paul believed that the right course of preaching, combined with the right manner of life, will be used of God to be affirmed in the conscience of others.
Closing:
Lot, when he warned his family members, they would not leave Sodom. His failure to maintain a good conscience toward men cost his family their lives. Paul could say that his conscience was clear; he had done nothing to hinder those who heard him preach from being changed or being from saved.