Why our Conscience Is Good

Hebrews 12:3–6
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, Lest you become weary and discouraged in your soul You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."


You never will stop sinning as long as you are breathing. Even if you are a Christian, you will sin. But there is a difference between being a sinner and living in a pattern of sin. And if you are a true Christian, you will not live in a pattern of sin.

As 1 John 3 says, "Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God" (verse 9).

If you, as a Christian, start to move in the wrong direction and are contemplating doing something sinful, you come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The fact that you are aware it is wrong and that you should not be doing it is a good sign. And if you end up doing what you know is wrong and feel deep guilt about it, then that, too, is a good sign. It means the alarm on your conscience is working.

It is like a smoke alarm that alerts you to danger or the need to change the battery. That is how our conscience works. It tells us what we are doing is wrong.

The time to be concerned is when you can contemplate a sin and don't feel any conviction and when you can go through with the sin and don't feel any guilt. That means your alarm isn't working or has been disabled, or you don't even have one anymore.

Maybe you have sensed God's disciplining hand in your life. Maybe you have been convicted, or you are feeling guilt. Rejoice! It means your conscience is working. If God deals with you when you go astray, then it is an indication that you are His child.

Paul thoroughly addresses the issue of sinfulness and life as a Christian. Throughout the chapter, he describes how Christians have overcome the sinful nature with statements like:

• "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." (Rom. 6:6-7)
• "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." (Rom. 6:14)
• "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Rom. 6:17-18)
• "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Rom. 6:22)

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’ – and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

• “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
• “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
• “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
  

These verses remind us that:

1. As Christians we will still sin.
2. Though we are commanded not to sin, there is forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
3. When we sin, there is a way to restore fellowship with God:

• Confess that sin to God and to others.
• Repent from the sin, asking God to change the direction of our lives.
• Pray for each other; ask someone to pray for us.
• Trust that God’s promises are true: He has forgiven us and no longer condemns us.
  
  

Jesus, who underwent torment and humiliation Jesus absorb all kinds of sins upon Himself to give us new life and to have it more abundantly (Salvation) for you and I. The world continue to struggle with sin. But the truth is, we are still sinners and will always battle with sin in our lives because we are inwardly bent towards sin. That is the reason God says in His Word that we need to confess our sins and rely on His promise to cleanse us: