Keep Our Conscience Clean (1 John 3:19-21)

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.” (1 John 3:19-21)

Deep within our hearts lies a personal tribunal, commonly known as our conscience. God has appointed the conscience to serve as a Judge over our actions, both accusing or excusing our actions. As much as we may deceive men with our false professions of faith, we cannot deceive our conscience. Unfortunately, our conscience serves as more than a Judge; it also serves as an Executioner. Who can possibly describe the terrors and pangs of conscience? Though it cannot be touched, it saps the strength. Though it cannot be seen, it haunts the heart and mind night and day. When we finally approach the Judgment Seat of God, our conscience will no longer be a Judge; it will be a Witness. In that day, the conscience will seem a petty judge compared to the power of a Just God. Our consciences may become hardened, our consciences may become deceived, but God ”knows everything” and acts accordingly. In the end of all days, his judgment will be thorough and his punishment exact.

Why should we tarry in the lower court of the conscience, only to be condemned in the just tribunal of God? Why do we not heed the warnings now before they become a reality? Our conscience will not be fooled by a false profession nor by the specter of good works. In these things, there is only condemnation; but in Christ alone, there is no condemnation. Only His Blood can “purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Heb. 9:14). The blood of Christ alone provides us with confidence before God, knowing that we are accepted and able to draw near “to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”