Scripture Reading – Hebrews 9:11-14 NKJV
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things [a]to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 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. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, [b]sanctifies for the [c]purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without [d]spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? – Hebrews 9:11-14 NKJV
Conscience –
The inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action.
“Conscience is an important part of human nature, but it is not an absolutely trustworthy indicator of what is right.” – Divine Guidance
One’s conscience can be:
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- “Good” (Acts 23:1; I Timothy 1:5, 19)
- “Clear” (Acts 24:16; I Timothy 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:3; Hebrews 13:18)
It can also be:
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- “Guilty” (Hebrews 10:22)
- “Corrupted” (Titus 1:15)
- “Weak” (I Corinthians 8:7, 10, 12)
- “Seared” (I Timothy 4:2)
“Prior to our being born-again when we were unbelievers our conscience was defiled along with our mind.” – Divine Guidance
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. – Titus 1:15 NKJV
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness[a] to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 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. – Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV
19 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death,[b]Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. – Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT
19 Therefore, brothers, having confidence for the entering of the Holies by the blood of Jesus— 20 which fresh[a] and living way He inaugurated for us through[b] the curtain, that is[c], His flesh— 21 and having a great Priest over the house of God, 22 let us be approaching God with a true heart in full-assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled[d] from an evil conscience, and having our body washed[e] with clean water. – Hebrews 10:19-22 DLNT
What does a good conscience look like?
How does it function once it has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus?
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, – I Peter 3:21 NKJV
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) – Romans 2:15 NKJV
1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, – Romans 9:1 NKJV
18 This [a]charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, – I Timothy 1:18-19 NKJV