Conscience

The conscience is the inner sense of right and wrong. It accuses or excuses a person, can be defiled or seared, and is cleansed through the blood of Christ.

The law written in the heart

• Romans 2:14-15
  ¹⁴For 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:Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
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• Romans 9:1
  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
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• 2 Corinthians 1:12
  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
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A good conscience

• Acts 23:1
  And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
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• Acts 24:16
  And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
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• 1 Timothy 1:5
  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
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• Hebrews 13:18
  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
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• 1 Peter 3:16
  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.keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
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A seared or defiled conscience

• 1 Timothy 1:19
  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.
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• 1 Timothy 4:2
  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
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• Titus 1:15
  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
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A cleansed conscience

• 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?how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
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• Hebrews 10:22
  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 draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
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• 1 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:And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
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The conscience of others

• 1 Corinthians 8:7
  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
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• 1 Corinthians 8:12
  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
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• 1 Corinthians 10:28-29
  ²⁸But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience— ²⁹Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?
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When the heart condemns

• 1 Samuel 24:5
  And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
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• John 8:9
  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.
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• 1 John 3:20-21
  ²⁰For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. ²¹Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
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See also

• Sin
• Forgiveness
• Integrity
• Repentance
• Judging others

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.