the answer of a good conscience
2 corinthians 1.12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
1 peter 3.21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
romans 2.15 Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.
1 timothy 1.5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.
+____)(*^@!!!@^*)(____+~~~+____)(*^@!!!@^*)(____+~~~+____)(*^@!!!@^*)(____+
your conscience has something to say – let it speak up nice and loud. people let themselves develop the terrible habit of shoving the voice of their conscience back down every time they hear it. it’s almost like king ahab talking about the godly prophet michaiah: “he always has bad things to prophesy to me, never good.” they focus so much on the initial pain of the message, rather than on the awesome result.
understand that the voice of your conscience is really the Holy Spirit calling you to come over and remain in the place of total peace with God. the beautiful thing about really paying attention to correction is that your conscience will speak up loud and clear that you are now completely made right with God. the Holy Spirit wants to testify with your spirit in no uncertain terms that you are a child of God; but you must first let him speak. it is possible to sear our consciences: to silence and drown out the Holy Ghost so many times that he no longer speaks with life-giving conviction.
right now if this has happened to you to any degree, receive the miracle of a completely restored conscience – totally sensitive to anything the Holy Spirit has to say. from now on you live in the ecstatic place of a good conscience >>
The conscience, as you said, can play an important role in change, if we let it through the Holy Spirit. As Paul says in 2 Cor 5: “… the love of Christ controls us… if any one is in Christ, they are a new creation, the old things have passed away, … new things have come.” What a wonderful truth, if we stay in Him.
Thanks for the encouragement, Glen.