W. Frank Walton
11/20/12
“The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5).
A clear conscience is a soft pillow. Paul lived with “a good conscience” as a Jewish rabbi who persecuted and killed Christians (Acts 23:1). Yet, His conscience was convicted by the truth of Jesus Christ and he was willing to change (1 Tim. 1:12-17). When confronted with the reality of the risen Christ, he humbly said, “Lord what will you have me to do?” (Acts 22:16). You can’t buy a good conscience! One can “sear their conscience” by repeated violations of doing what’s wrong, so you no longer can feel guilt or it just doesn’t bother you. When you obey the gospel of Jesus by being immersed for the remission of sins, this is “the pledge of a good conscience” (1 Pet. 3:21).