Is a good conscience from the Holy Spirit?
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Never underestimate how depraved man is by nature. Even though we have been born again and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we still carry the baggage of our sinful nature, and at times, yield our bodies to lust after the things of the world. Once we are born again, and do sin, we do not lose our promise of eternal life, but we do lose our fellowship with God until we repent and he forgives us.
A truly good conscience before God definitely comes from the Holy Spirit and ONLY from the Holy Spirit.
But people who don't know God can have a good conscience because their hearts are deceitful. But I think they know in the backs of their minds that they aren't truly good before God. And that is why they sometimes get angry when you talk about God. It brings up this fear into the forefront of their minds.
Like the Pharisees. I bet they thought they had good consciences. And that is why the Lord was so hard on them. Because they didn't come before God like the sinner does. Knowing that they don't have a good conscience before God.
But people who don't know God can have a good conscience because their hearts are deceitful. But I think they know in the backs of their minds that they aren't truly good before God. And that is why they sometimes get angry when you talk about God. It brings up this fear into the forefront of their minds.
Like the Pharisees. I bet they thought they had good consciences. And that is why the Lord was so hard on them. Because they didn't come before God like the sinner does. Knowing that they don't have a good conscience before God.
I am a little confused with your post, in the fact, that you seem to contradict yourself. Maybe I am looking at it wrong. Can you enlighten me? You say "A truly good conscience before God definitely comes from the Holy Spirit and only from the Holy Spirit". But then you say "But people who don't know God can have a good conscience" It is my understanding, by referencing 1 Cor 2:14, that revelation of God comes only from the Holy Spirit, which the natural man does not have. But maybe I am interpreting 1 Cor 2:14 wrong, could that be?
Hi FGC
Yes it does seem there are those who "think" they have a good conscience who obviously don't. People will try and justify anything to let themselves off so they are not "self convicted" of their own sin. Otherwise they would feel guilty of their own sin and they don't want to. I guess people lie to themselves.
"I stole that mans oranges because he stole my lemons" for instance, as if they are justifying why they did something so they are in the clear and can sleep alright. I guess this is a somewhat deluded way of looking at themselves, like a thief who is the first to complain when someone steals something from him is using double standards and is not of "one" mind.
I think this is the meaning of being self righteous and not God Righteous.
Yes it does seem there are those who "think" they have a good conscience who obviously don't. People will try and justify anything to let themselves off so they are not "self convicted" of their own sin. Otherwise they would feel guilty of their own sin and they don't want to. I guess people lie to themselves.
"I stole that mans oranges because he stole my lemons" for instance, as if they are justifying why they did something so they are in the clear and can sleep alright. I guess this is a somewhat deluded way of looking at themselves, like a thief who is the first to complain when someone steals something from him is using double standards and is not of "one" mind.
I think this is the meaning of being self righteous and not God Righteous.
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We are all made in the image of God and I believe all people have the ability to be convicted of right versus wrong. The Samaritan was the one to help the man who had been attacked. I was a medical social worker and was surrounded by other workers who dedicated their lives to child welfare. They had a deep conviction about protecting the helpless, those who were poor and who had been abandoned. Their conscience would not let them rest in the face of injustice. They were not Christians. Why did they have these convictions? I believe that they recognized truth and were compelled to do right because of God. They may not have recognized it as such.
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Hello LH, yes I agree with that. I have met many who never mention whether they are "Christian" or not and they seem to do a lot of the worlds work for the poor and go about unspotted, helping widows etc, while other so called, walk by or even "devour widows houses".
I think there is a chapter and verse on that, something like "how much more are those rewarded who have not "seen" Christ who do good? The Doubting Thomas verse where he did not believe until he saw Christ himself and actually touched him to feel his body to prove he was very real indeed when risen.
Not sure if this is referring to them having it "written of their heart" without any need to be taught first. I guess if all professing "Christians" were "Good" then Jesus wouldn't have mentioned that many dress up pretending to be appear "good" when they are not. Wolves in sheep's clothing.
I think there is a chapter and verse on that, something like "how much more are those rewarded who have not "seen" Christ who do good? The Doubting Thomas verse where he did not believe until he saw Christ himself and actually touched him to feel his body to prove he was very real indeed when risen.
Not sure if this is referring to them having it "written of their heart" without any need to be taught first. I guess if all professing "Christians" were "Good" then Jesus wouldn't have mentioned that many dress up pretending to be appear "good" when they are not. Wolves in sheep's clothing.
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Yes, in agreement laughingheart.
I believe all are born with a "conscience" and it is the conscience which allows us to know right from wrong. Rom 2:15 refers to the the work of the law written in the heart
Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts
I believe the work of the law written in the heart works on and influences our conscience.
I do not believe the work of the law written in the heart is the same as what occurs after a person is born again when God promises to write His law in our hearts.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
To me, the work of the law is like a copy of the law on our hearts. It's like a covering over our heart (which is hardened like stone). This work of the law on the heart is easily overcome by the will of man. As we continue to ignore our conscience, we can get to the point where it doesn't bother us to do evil ... even to the point where the conscience becomes seared with a hot iron.
On the other hand, when we are born again, God actually begins to write His laws in our hearts with His own Hand. To me, this is much more than just a copy of the law placed on the heart. The law becomes engraved, etched upon the new heart of flesh placed by God within the born again believer. It is more difficult to ignore our conscience as this engraving/etching is cut into our new, fleshly hearts.
So I do believe people who are not born again can recognize right from wrong and can even do "right" things. How all this unfolds come judgment day is a matter I leave to God in His infinite wisdom.
I believe all are born with a "conscience" and it is the conscience which allows us to know right from wrong. Rom 2:15 refers to the the work of the law written in the heart
Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts
I believe the work of the law written in the heart works on and influences our conscience.
I do not believe the work of the law written in the heart is the same as what occurs after a person is born again when God promises to write His law in our hearts.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
To me, the work of the law is like a copy of the law on our hearts. It's like a covering over our heart (which is hardened like stone). This work of the law on the heart is easily overcome by the will of man. As we continue to ignore our conscience, we can get to the point where it doesn't bother us to do evil ... even to the point where the conscience becomes seared with a hot iron.
On the other hand, when we are born again, God actually begins to write His laws in our hearts with His own Hand. To me, this is much more than just a copy of the law placed on the heart. The law becomes engraved, etched upon the new heart of flesh placed by God within the born again believer. It is more difficult to ignore our conscience as this engraving/etching is cut into our new, fleshly hearts.
So I do believe people who are not born again can recognize right from wrong and can even do "right" things. How all this unfolds come judgment day is a matter I leave to God in His infinite wisdom.
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These particular co-workers that I am thinking of were rather clear in their views. I also know several other lovely people who are not believers but live highly ethical lives. I think we can be unintentionally prideful when we portray Christians as the only ones with a conscience. We are not better people. We are forgiven. We should be very humble. We can appear arrogant if we pretend to somehow be better than those around us. It does a disservice to the gospel. We should do what we can for better communication. We cannot reach out in love if we think ourselves better than other people. I myself am flawed. I am forgiven however I have not always listened. I am grateful that God is patient.
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