A Matter of Conscience

v.12:

Paul is speaking of God's final judgment of the unbelievers.

God will judge unbelievers according to the knowledge they have received, which means there will be different levels of punishment in hell.

There will be different levels of punishment in hell.

Luke 12:47-48 

Luke 12:47–48 NKJV

And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

God’s judgment will be fair. It will be based on what the servants know of God’s will. 

This is not to suggest that the more ignorant we are, the easier time we will have at the Judgment Seat of Christ!

All are without excuse.

Romans 1:20

Romans 1:20 NKJV

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Romans 2:1

Romans 2:1 NKJV

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

What Jesus is stating in Luke is a general principle: the more we have from God, the greater our accountability before God.

v.13:

Reading the Law was a regular part of each synagogue service, so the Jews were those who hear the Law.

Paul's purpose is to undercut the position of those Jews who were counting on their (limited) obedience to the law for acceptance with God.

However, one's compliance with the law would have to be perfect, and that is impossible for us.

It is impossible for anyone to perfectly follow the law.

James 2:10

James 2:10 NKJV

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

Romans 3:28

Romans 3:28 NKJV

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Galatians 2:16

Galatians 2:16 NKJV

knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Since they were not able to perfectly keep the law, they would not be justified. They had placed their faith in the law rather than Christ.

vv.14-15:

We all know unsaved people who try to live a moral life. God has instilled in each person a conscience.

Some people may successfully sear their conscience, but they are not without one. They have to have a conscience in order to sear it.

1 Timothy 4:1-3

1 Timothy 4:1–3 NKJV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

This same conscience will also condemn those without faith. Their conscience will bear witness against them, and they will have no excuses.

Conscience is an important part of human nature, but it is not an absolutely trustworthy indicator of what is right. 

One's conscience can be good and pure, or evil, defiled, weak and/or seared.

Acts 23: 1

Acts 23:1 NKJV

Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

2 Timothy 1:3

2 Timothy 1:3 NKJV

I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,

Hebrews 10:22

Hebrews 10:22 NKJV

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.

Titus 1:15

Titus 1:15 NKJV

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

1 Corinthians 8:12

1 Corinthians 8:12 NKJV

But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

1 Timothy 4:2

1 Timothy 4:2 NKJV

speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Everyone needs to trust Christ so that He will cleanse their consciences.

Hebrews 9:14

Hebrews 9:14 NKJV

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

v.16:

Nothing will be hidden from God.

Luke 8:17

Luke 8:17 NKJV

For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

All things will be judged according to the dictates of the Gospel.

If you traveled around the world, you would find evidence in every society and culture of God’s moral law. 

For example, all cultures prohibit murder, and yet in all societies that law has been broken. 

We belong to a stubborn, sinful race. 

We know what is right, but we insist on doing what is wrong. 

But before we can focus on doing right, we must first place our faith in Christ.

Only by His power, can we live a God-honoring, faithful and obedient life.