Tag: good conscience

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Acts Devotionals

In all good conscience (2)

clean conscience

I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men. (Acts 24:16)

This is the second time in two chapters that Paul talks about keeping a clear conscience before God. (Acts 23:1)

Why was that important to him?

I think there were three reasons.

First, he knew there was a resurrection and that he would stand before God’s judgment seat someday. (15)

He once told the Corinthians,

Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

But as much as he knew the fear of the Lord, he also knew the love of the Lord, and that also drove him. He said,

For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died.

And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

But I think a final reason is that he knew keeping a clear conscience had an effect on his testimony.

When Paul talked to Felix about judgment, it scared Felix to death. (Acts 24:25)

I half-wonder if one reason Felix was hoping for a bribe from Paul was to diminish his testimony. After all, if Paul accepted a bribe, how afraid of judgment could Paul really be?

But Paul kept a clean conscience, and his testimony stood.

How important is keeping a clear conscience to us?

Father, help me to always keep a clear conscience before you. For fear of you. For love of you. And for an unstained witness that might draw the people I love to you.

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Acts Devotionals

In all good conscience

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience to this day.” (Acts 23:1)

I wish I were able to say what Paul said.

Not with an arrogant or self-righteous attitude, of course.

The truth is, we can be acting in all good conscience and still do some pretty horrific things. Paul knew that as well as anyone. (1 Timothy 1:13-14)

But I never want to violate my conscience, willfully doing what I know is wrong.

And when I realize my sin, I want a soft heart like Paul’s that quickly repents. (Acts 23:5)

So my heart’s prayer is this:

Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule me.
Then I will be blameless
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:12-14)

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1 Timothy Devotionals

What the law is good for

But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately.

We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me. (1Timothy 1:8-11)

We live in a world where there are Christians, even pastors who are trying to “unhitch” the church from the Old Testament, saying God’s law has no relevance for us.

They then point to the ritual laws, such as circumcision, the sacrifices, and the seasonal festivals to try to prove their point.

But Paul makes very clear that the law is still good if we use it legitimately.

What is a legitimate use of the law? To point out what sin is. The list that Paul uses above is essentially an expanded version of the ten commandments.

And Paul says that these laws aren’t necessary for people who are righteous and living a life pleasing to God. They’re necessary for those who are living in rebellion against God to point out their sin.

As Paul points out in Romans 3:19-20, it’s through God’s law that we become conscious of sin.

On the other hand, Paul also points out in the same passage that the law is not good for actually making someone righteous before God because no one can keep the law perfectly.

And that’s why we need the good news that Paul proclaims.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners… (1 Timothy 1:15)

But in order to define “sinners,” we need to define what “sin” is, and that’s what the law does for us.

Without that definition of sin, there is no gospel because there is nothing for us to be saved from.

Unfortunately, for those who seek to unhitch the church from God’s law, many end up as Hymenaeus and Alexander rejecting a good conscience before God, embracing their sin, and end up shipwrecking their faith. (20)

Let’s never do that. Instead, let us fight the good fight, living a life of love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. (5, 18-19)

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Acts Devotionals

Living with a clean conscience

Acts

Paul’s words are very striking in verse 1.

My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day. (Acts 23:1)

How many of us can say the same thing? That our consciences are clear before God? That all we do in life and in ministry has been done with a good conscience? That not only our actions, but our motives are pure before him?

But even if we feel like we have a clean conscience, it’s interesting to note what Paul told the Corinthians in his first letter to them.

It is of little importance to me that I should be judged by you or by any human court.

In fact, I don’t even judge myself. For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me.

So don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts.

And then praise will come to each one from God. (1 Corinthians 4:3-5)

In other words, just because we feel our consciences are clean, it doesn’t mean that our actions and motives are always right.

So what am I saying? Constantly search your heart. Even if you think your actions and motives are right, pray each day as David did.

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.

See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24)

And remember: even if you feel like you’re doing well, you do so by the grace of God. There’s no boasting in that.

And when we’re not doing well, it is the grace of God that sustains us.

So let us live each day by that grace. (Romans 5:1-2)