LOVE TABERNACLE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
BOOK: Who We Are In Christ
Chapter 2: A Good Conscience
2 A Good Conscience
Before we were born-again and reconciled to God thru the blood of
Jesus Christ, we had an evil conscience. That is, we were still
conscience of our sins and of our unworthiness to enter into an
intimate relationship and fellowship with God.
Hebrews 9:9
Which was a figure for the time then present,
in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices,
that could not make him that did the service
perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Hebrews 10:1-4
For the law having a shadow of good things to
come, and not the very image of the things, can
never with those sacrifices which they offered
year by year continually make the comers
thereunto perfect. For then would they not have
ceased to be offered? because that the
worshippers once purged should have had no more
conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices
there is a remembrance again made of sins every
year. For it is not possible that the blood of
bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Yet born-again believers have their sins purged, not only from before
God, that He has no more remembrance of them, but also from their own
conscience, in that they should not have any condemnation or
shame.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:16-23
This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my
laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I
write them; And their sins and iniquities will I
remember no more. Now where remission of these
is, there is no more offering for sin. Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and
living way, which he hath consecrated for us,
through the vail, that is to say, his flesh;
And having an high priest over the house of God;
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. Let us hold fast the profession
of our faith without wavering; (for he is
faithful that promised;)
Before rebirth, our conscience was aware of the guilt of our sin, and
of the fear of God's wrath toward that sin. We were not able to
come boldly to God because our inner man told us and bore witness that
there was enmity between us and God.
When the Holy Spirit revealed to us that the sin problem had been taken
care of by Jesus on the cross, then we were able to come in to God
boldly, receive sonship thru adoption, and become partakers of His
divine nature. This removed the old sin nature. That is to say,
both the desire to commit sin and the remembrance of past sins
committed. The Holy Spirit bearing witness in us to our sonship
and fellowship with the Father.
We can now come boldly unto our Father, just like unto our natural
father, for whatever we have need of. As a young child, you did
not think twice about running into the living room and jumping up on
your daddy's lap. You never hesitated to come to him to express
your love and affection. Nor did you ever hesitate to come to him
to ask him for whatever you desired, because you are confident he loved
you and there was no enmity between you and him1.
God loves you and He seeks to bless you! He wants to have an
intimate relationship with you! For you to come to know His
character and His Word! He has a place in His heart just for
you! Once we learn, and come to trust, that He loves us with an
everlasting love, and that all He tells us to do is for our protection
and provision2, then we can begin to act upon what he has told us, even if we do not fully understand why3.
In the example of the marriage relationship, each spouse has trust that
the other one loves them and has their best interest at heart.
There is no fear of coming to each other to ask for whatever the need
is. Each has confidence in the other, not only because they have
come to know each other's nature and love, but also because they have a
covenant relationship.
In a relationship like husband and wife, sometimes transgression will
occur between one mate and the other. The transgressing mate may
have trouble entering into a conversation, or even into the same room,
with their mate due to guilt stemming from the offense. The
relationship is not broken, but the fellowship is, and will remain so
until it is restored by love, mercy, and forgiveness.
If we sin, we should not try to hide it. Nor should we be driven
by guilt to continue in broken fellowship with the Lord Jesus
Christ. But we should run to Him, for He is faithful and just to
forgive us!
Satan seeks to separate us from God by using guilt over past
sins. He stands before the throne of God in man's heart, accusing
the brethren night and day, that they are unworthy and have no right to
boldly come to God. But thru knowledge of the Word of God and of
what actually happened when we were washed by the blood of Jesus, we
can overcome this lie. Knowing that our sins are no longer before
God, and that He has accepted us as sons, we are able to come the
throne of God in the time of need, to receive grace and help, in the
mighty name of Jesus! Amen!
2.1 Renew Your Mind
Before rebirth, our natural man minded4 the things of the flesh and of the world, rather than the things of God.
James 4:4
... know ye not that the friendship of the world
is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be
a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Romans 8:5-8
For they that are after the flesh do mind the
things of the flesh; but they that are after
the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be
carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind
is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then
they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
After rebirth, we received a new nature, that is a re-created spirit in
the image of God. But our minds are still in contact with the
flesh and the world. This is the area where Satan makes his
attacks. Therefore we must continually renew our minds by reading
and meditating on the scriptures.
Colos 3:10
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in
knowledge after the image of him that created him
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service. And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I Peter 3:15-16
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is
in you with meekness and fear;
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they
speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may
be ashamed that falsely accuse your good
conversation in Christ.
I Peter 3:21
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth
also now save us (not the putting away of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ:
We need to be holy5 in spirit, soul, and body. In our soul area6,
we need to be sure we are not thinking sinful thoughts. Satan
will try to get us meditating on sinful acts which we would never
commit in real life. This draws us away from our continued
fellowship in the Lord Jesus, and limits our growth.
As you renew your mind with the Word of God, the Holy Spirit has
something to talk to you about, opening it up to you, and showing you
how to walk in it. Because you are thinking on and doing the
Word, you feel good about your relationship and continued fellowship
with God, rather than being under condemnation and guilt over the evil
thoughts and temptations Satan keeps bringing up to your inactive mind.7
2.2 Condemnation verse Conviction
Condemnation comes from Satan. It says you are guilty, and there
is no way out. It says you deserve every evil and rotten thing
that is happening to happen to you. Condemnation is a spirit
which tries to put a person is a spiritual corner, with no escape, and
then beat them and beat them and beat them.
Many saints of God ignorantly work with the spirit of condemnation in
trying to work reconciliation with a brother in Christ. For
example lets say a brother is in an adulterous situation. The
brother has a desire to quit, but the spirit of adultery has him
spiritually bound in the affair, where he cannot get free. The
brother seeks help from the Church, but every time they "beat" him with
the Word. "You're guilty! You low down thing. You
sinner you. You need to stop that! God's going to punish
you."
How would you like to be chained in a dark corner, not able to get
free, and every time you call out to the person walking by with the
light, they beat you? I am not saying to condon what the
adulterer is doing, but I am saying to set him free through Love by the
power of the Holy Spirit and the delegated authority in the name of
Jesus!
II Cor 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new
testament; not of the letter, but of the
spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit
giveth life.
God has made us able ministers of the new testament! But realize
that the letter of the new testament can kill! Only the spirit of
the Word can bring life and liberty. What is the spirit of the
Word? Love! Remember Jesus was moved by compassion, by the
love of God in Him, to meet the needs of the people. When you see
a brother in bondage, love does not beat, but intercedes for him,
binding the satanic spirits, breaking the bands of wickedness, and
loosing the captives so that they can go free8.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Conviction, or to convince, comes from the Holy Spirit, and says you
are guilty but there is a way out. Conviction under the Holy
Spirit will lead you out of sin, out from under condemnation, and unto
liberty and life in Christ Jesus.
John 16:8
And when he is come, he will reprove the world
of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Remember, conviction leads to hope and reconciliation, but condemnation leads to despair and fear9.
As you grow in the Lord, by renewing your mind daily, the Holy Spirit
will teach you more and more, to equip you to be a mature man of God,
able to accomplish all God has called you to do in Christ Jesus.
II Tim 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.
As we walk thru this life, we start out as if like walking in a dark
forest, not knowing where we are going, full of fear, and worry.
Then we find this great highway of holiness, a Way of great Light and
Comfort10.
As we proceed up it, the Holy Spirit teaches us doctrine, that is,
basic fundamental truths. When we get enough light or truth in a
certain area of our life, the Holy Spirit reproofs11 us that we have one foot in the ditch. He shows us the way out12 of the ditch, and tells us how to continue proceeding up the highway of holiness13, until we become a mature man of God.
Praise God! Remember He loves you with an everlasting love!
He does not seek to beat you, but desires to love you and teach you how
to grow up into a mature, healthy, happy man and woman of God.
Call on Him today! Talk to Him and see if He is not faithful and
true to show His love toward you!
Footnotes:
1. see Hebrews 4:16, Romans 2:4
2. would you purposely tell your child to do anything that was not for his good
3. how many times have you told your child to do something, and in his understanding it did not make sense, yet it was for his good
4. thought on and did
5. sinless
6. mind, will, emotions
7. see Rom 1:18-20, Rom 3:14-16, 1 John 3:19-22
8. see Isaiah 58, Matt 25:34-40
9. torment, see 1 John 4:15-18
10. the Way, the Truth, the Light - Jesus
11. points out
12. correction
13. instructions in righteousness