Conscience, 8

 

~ Forgotten Conscience ~

 

Series Note ~ The conscience plays a crucial role in human behavior.  The Scripture has much to say about our conscience.  In these early posts of this series, we are looking at various Biblical Descriptions of our conscience. 

 

Scripture ~ While there is no passage (that I am aware of) that specifically states we can subdue our conscience to the point of forgetting about it, the concept is clear throughout many passages of Scripture. 

 

Comment ~ The conscience is our inner monitor of both our thoughts and actions.  A forgotten conscience is one that has been so ignored that it no longer tugs at our inner morality. 

 

In a normal Christian it is the Holy Spirit that reminds, reprimands, and leads us to correct our thinking and our action.  The Spirit is on the good side and speaking to us about our new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15) versus our old nature (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9).

 

Importance ~ One day a key component of God’s judgement of your life will be in regard to how well you paid attention to your conscience.

 

“(Their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel” (Romans 2:15b-16).

 

Solution ~ The key is to be sensitive to your conscience (rather than being insensitive leading to a forgotten conscience). 

 

“We have renounced the hidden things of shame, 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” (2 Corinthians 4:2).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Binary, 21

 

~ Binary: God or The World ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 in this series.]

 

Scripture  ~  “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt.  Serve the Lord!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15).

 

Comment  ~  You must make a choice.  By not choosing you are making the wrong choice of the world.  You cannot serve both!

 

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

*****

God Attribute, 19

 

~ Dwells In Believers ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Introduction  ~  When a person becomes a Christian the Holy Spirit enters into their lives to guide, direct, and teach them the things of God.

 

Scripture  ~  When Jesus was preparing to ascent back into heaven He said: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.  But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17).

 

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NIV).

 

“That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (2 Timothy 1:14).

 

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)

 

Warning  ~  “As God has two dwelling places: heaven and a contrite heart, so has the devil – hell and a proud heart.” –Thomas Watson

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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