What Is CONSCIENCE?
Conscience is the God-given sense in people that distinguishes right and wrong. In other words, it’s an inner signal of universal morality. You could call it an intrinsic moral compass. Our Creator gave humanity conscience to steer us away from what’s morally wrong and toward what’s right. When a person ignores this built-in signal and commits the immoral deed in question he or she will experience guilt, which motivates repentance. Repentance means to change your mind and therefore change your actions.
Here’s an example from when I was seven years old: I stopped at a friend’s house before walking to elementary school together. His mother asked him if he had brushed his teeth wherein he replied he did, but she knew he was lying and made him do so before leaving. The next morning I was preparing for school and my mom asked if I brushed my teeth; negatively influenced by my friend’s behavior, I lied and said I did. My mom trusted my word, however, and I went off to school. Naturally, I felt bad about needlessly lying to my dear mother. What was going on? I was only seven years old, but my conscience signaled to me that lying in this manner was wrong. I needed to stop it or I’d end up becoming a pathetic liar.
‘Conscience’ in the Bible
The Greek word translated as ‘conscience’ in the New Testament is suneidésis (soon-AHY-day-sis), which refers to an innate discernment of morality, a “joint-knowing… which joins moral and spiritual consciousness as part of being created in the divine image. Accordingly, all people have this God-given capacity to know right from wrong” (HELPS Word-studies).
Paul said “I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience (suneidésis) confirms it through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 9:1). This shows that the conscience “works with” the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life, which makes sense since the Holy Spirit indwells the believer’s human spirit, as observed in Ephesians 3:16. The only reason the Holy Spirit can do this is because our reborn spirit was “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness,” as shown in Ephesians 4:24.
While unredeemed people don’t have the Holy Spirit living in them since they lack spiritual regeneration (Titus 3:5), they do have a conscience, which distinguishes right from wrong, whether they care to admit it or not. This explains why their conscience will be a “witness” when they stand before God on Judgment Day, as observed here:
(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
Romans 2:14-16
This shows that…
Conscience Stems From the Human Spirit, the Person’s “Good Side”
Where does conscience originate? It proceeds from your spirit, which is your “good side” or godly nature and is contrasted by your flesh or sinful nature, as observed here:
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other…
Galatians 5:17
Of course the human spirit (from which your conscience stems) is not a separate person inside of you, but rather is simply your spiritual proclivity, just as your sinful nature — your flesh — is not a separate person, but rather your carnal proclivity. Your conscience informs you what is good and bad while your spirit compels you to do the right thing. At the same time, your sinful nature compels you to choose the bad because it’s only interested in appeasing the immediate desires of the flesh and not concerned with the underlying long-term consequences.
Both of these contrasting natures — spirit and flesh — constantly send thoughts/desires/images to your mind and you then have the choice to accept them or not. You have this choice because you possess the power of volition, like all human beings. Whatever thoughts you decide to dwell on will increase desire and lead to the act in question, whether good or bad (James 1:13-15).
Here’s a diagram of human nature that helps visualize these things (click to enlarge):
(For important details on the inner conflict of spirit and flesh, as well as human nature in general, see this article).
The Bible speaks of three different kinds of consciences; let’s look at all three:
A “Good Conscience” or “Clear Conscience”
There are several references to a good conscience or clear conscience in the New Testament (1 Timothy 1:5, 1:19, 3:9, 1 Peter 3:16, 3:21, Hebrews 13:18 & Acts 24:16). Having a good conscience or clear conscience simply means that the person in question respects this God-given inner-signal and walks accordingly. If they miss it, they readily repent (1 John 1:8-9), which the Bible calls “keeping with repentance,” something we all should do (Matthew 3:8 & Luke 3:8). Confession of a mistake or sin takes humility, which naturally attracts God’s grace (favor) and stops prosecution (James 4:6 & 1 Peter 5:5).
Even unbelievers can maintain a clear conscience by being honest about their mistakes and not continuing with the transgression in question. In other words, they admit they screwed up because their conscience bugged them and they refuse to live the misdeed as a lifestyle. This is repentance.
A Seared Conscience
Paul spoke of “hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). People with a seared conscious have ignored the warning of their conscience so often that they are now hardened to it and therefore utterly ignore it with zero qualms, which can be observed in Ephesians 4:19. This is one-and-the-same as what the Bible calls “hardening the heart” (Acts 28:27 & Hebrews 3:7-8).
A Weak Conscience
A weak conscience is an unhealthy conscience that’s no longer strong and therefore is unreliable in some ways (1 Corinthians 8), but not all ways. The Greek word for ‘weak’ is detailed here. A weak conscience develops through misinformation or false doctrine wherein the believer with this condition usually has personal issues with the behavior in question and has little sense of moderation.
A good modern example would be the drinking of alcoholic beverages. While being a drunkard is a sin (Galatians 5:19-21 & 1 Corinthians 6:9-11), drinking a sip of alcohol is not (1 Timothy 5:23 & Deuteronomy 14:26), although it would arguably be a sin for an alcoholic, as well as those who cause others to fall (Romans 14:21). The believer with the weak conscience is the one who sees another believer drinking an alcoholic beverage and automatically assumes s/he is in sin and it may even harm their faith.
Believers with weak consciences are either spiritually immature and need to grow or are developing a legalistic spirit. Regardless, mature believers with healthy consciences must be considerate of those with weak consciences; it’s simply a matter of walking in love toward others. You can read scriptural details here.
Related Topics:
Human Nature — Spirit, Mind & Body
Spiritual Growth — The Four Stages
Does the Bible support a “Justifiable Lie”?
Christianity — Does it Weaken People or Empower?
Law (Torah) — New Testament Believers are NOT Under the Law
Legalism — Understanding its Many Forms
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