1. W E L C O M E T O T H E
J A C K S O N S T R E E T C H U R C H O F C H R I S T
P L E A S E T U R N O F F C E L L P H O N E S

2. Acts 24:15-16 I have hope in
God, which they themselves
also accept, that there will be
a resurrection of the dead,
both of the just and the
unjust. 16 This being so, I
myself always strive to have a
conscience without offense
toward God and men.

3. THE ABUNDANT LIFE - A
CLEAR CONSCIENCE

15. THE CONSCIENCE
A. The pirate Gibbs,
B. Abraham Lincoln
C. I would change Lincoln’s statement to: “I
desire to so live, that if at the end of this life
on earth I have lost every other friend, I shall
at least have one friend left, and that friend
will be the Lord Jesus Christ.”
D. 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 But with me it is a very
small thing that I should be judged by you or
by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge
myself. 4 For I know nothing against myself,
yet I am not justified by this; but He who
judges me is the Lord.

16. I. WE HAVE REASON TO HAVE A
GUILTY CONSCIENCE - SIN
A.Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God,
B.1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If
we say that we have not sinned, we make
Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

17. II. WE CAN HAVE A CLEAR
CONSCIENCE
A. WE SHOULD DESIRE A CLEAR
CONSCIENCE - Rom 13:5 Therefore you
must be subject, not only because of wrath
but also for conscience' sake.
B. WE CAN KNOW OUR CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR
1. Heb 13:18 Pray for us; for we are confident
that we have a good conscience, in all
things desiring to live honorably
2. 2 Tim 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a
pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as
without ceasing I remember you in my
prayers night and day,

18. II. WE CAN HAVE A CLEAR
CONSCIENCE
C. GOD GAVE US DIRECTION TO HAVE A CLEAR
CONSCIENCE - 1 Tim 1:5 Now the purpose of the
commandment is love from a pure heart, from a
good conscience, and from sincere faith,
D. IT MAY TAKE SUFFERING - 1 Pet 2:19-21 For this is
commendable, if because of conscience toward
God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For
what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your
faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good
and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is
commendable before God. For to this you were
called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that you should follow His steps:

19. II. WE CAN HAVE A CLEAR
CONSCIENCE
E. SOME REJECT HAVING A CLEAR
CONSCIENCE - 1 Tim 1:19 having faith and
a good conscience, which some having
rejected, concerning the faith have
suffered shipwreck,

20. Ill. OUR CONSCIENCE IS NOT
ALWAYS A SAFE GUIDE
A. OUR CONSCIENCE CAN BE SEARED OR
CALLOUSED - 1 Tim 4:2 speaking lies in
hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared
with a hot iron,
B. OUR CONSCIENCE CAN BE DEFILED - Titus 1:15
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who
are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but
even their mind and conscience are defiled.
C. PAUL’S CONSCIENCE WAS CLEAR WHEN HE
WAS PERSECUTING THE CHURCH - Acts 23:1
Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said,
"Men and brethren, I have lived in all good
conscience before God until this day."

21. Ill. OUR CONSCIENCE IS NOT
ALWAYS A SAFE GUIDE
D. OUR CONSCIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT
- 1 John 3:18-22 My little children, let us
not love in word or in tongue, but in deed
and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we
are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts
before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns
us, God is greater than our heart, and
knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart
does not condemn us, we have confidence
toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we
receive from Him, because we keep His
commandments and do those things that
are pleasing in His sight.

22. IV. WE SHOULD NEVER TO
VIOLATE OUR CONSCIENCE
1 Cor 8 Now concerning things offered to idols: We
know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up,
but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows
anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But
if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to
idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and
that there is no other God but one. For even if there are
so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there
are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one
God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him;
and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things,
and through whom we live. However, there is not in
everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness
of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol;
and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. >>>

23. IV. WE SHOULD NEVER TO
VIOLATE OUR CONSCIENCE
But food does not commend us to God; for neither if
we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the
worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours
become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For
if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an
idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is
weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to
idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak
brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you
thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak
conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food
makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat,
lest I make my brother stumble.

24. V. WE SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO
THE CONSCIENCE OF OTHERS
A. WE CAN CAUSE THEM TO STUMBLE - (I Cor 8:9-
13) But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours
become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
{10} For if anyone sees you who have knowledge
eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience
of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those
things offered to idols? {11} And because of your
knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for
whom Christ died? {12} But when you thus sin
against the brethren, and wound their weak
conscience, you sin against Christ. {13}
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I
will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother
stumble.

25. V. WE SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO
THE CONSCIENCE OF OTHERS
B. WE SHOULD NOT OFFEND THE CONSCIENCE OF
OTHERS - (1 Cor 10:28-33) But if anyone says to
you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for
the sake of the one who told you, and for
conscience' sake; for "the earth is the Lord's, and
all its fullness." {29} "Conscience," I say, not your
own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty
judged by another man's conscience? {30} But if I
partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for
the food over which I give thanks? {31} Therefore,
whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do
all to the glory of God. {32} Give no offense, either
to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of
God, {33} just as I also please all men in all
things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit
of many, that they may be saved.

26. V. WE SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO
THE CONSCIENCE OF OTHERS
C. WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT
THEIR CONSCIENCE - (2 Cor 4:1-2)
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as
we have received mercy, we do not lose
heart. {2} But we have renounced the
hidden things of shame, not walking in
craftiness nor handling the word of God
deceitfully, but by manifestation of the
truth commending ourselves to every
man's conscience in the sight of God.

27. VI. OUR CONSCIENCE CAN BE
PURIFIED AFTER BEING DEFILED
A. Heb 9:11-14 But Christ came as High Priest of the
good things to come, with the greater and more
perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of
this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves,
but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy
Place once for all, having obtained eternal
redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and
the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much
more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God,
cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve
the living God?
B. Heb 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.

28. VI. OUR CONSCIENCE CAN BE
PURIFIED AFTER BEING DEFILED
C. Rom 7:21-8:2 1 find then a law, that evil is present
with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight
in the law of God according to the inward man. But
I see another law in my members, warring against
the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity
to the law of sin which is in my members. O
wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from
this body of death? I thank God; through Jesus
Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself
serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of
sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to
those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk
according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has
made me free from the law of sin and death.

29. IS YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR?
A. 1 Peter 3:15-17 But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that
is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good
conscience, that when they defame you as
evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in
Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the
will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing
evil.
B. 1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now
saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of
the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ,
C. WE CAN’T HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE WITHOUT
HAVING A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

31. HAVE A CONCIENTIOUS WEEK