TEXT: Prov 14:12

INTRODUCTION:

1. Have you ever taken the time to go through the Bible and share the good news about Christ with a only to have your friend say, "Well, I'm not too worried about it. I believe if I just live a good life and let my conscious be my guide I’ll go to Heaven?"
2. Have you ever talked to someone who was living in adultery and discovered that they were convinced that they were in good standing with God?
3. Have you ever wondered how those who practice Homosexuality can "come out of the closet", demonstrate in the streets and start their own churches and ignore the plain statements from the Bible about the practice of homosexuality?

(1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, {10} nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. {11} And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

4. At least one of the problems we are dealing with is the age old non sequitur let your conscience be your guide.
5. The world is suffering from a fundamental misconception about the basic role of the conscience.
6. Is conscience really a safe guide?
7. Will we really go to heaven if we Let our conscious be our guide?

1. The conscience is not a safe guide in secular matters.
1. Earthly travel (a map is necessary).
1. Trip through Memphis during construction.
2. Have you ever driven for miles the wrong direction thinking that you were on the right road?
3. Worse yet have you ever been so sure that you were on the right road that you lost your temper and argued with your mate before being proven wrong?
4. If Conscience is not a safe guide in earthly travel, then how can it be safe for heavenly travel?

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

2. The conscience is not a safe guide in matters of physical health.
1. Jesus knew that physicians were necessary

Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

2. Some go to the wrong doctor.

Mark 5:25-26 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, ²⁶ and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

3. If one takes poison believing it is safe his conscience will not save him.
4. Williams Taking Camphorated oil for Castor Oil. The fact that she believed it was Castor Oil didn’t effect the outcome.
3. Conscience is not a safe guide in financial matters.
1. Hucksters are counting on the fact that you will let your conscience be your guide instead of checking the facts.
2. In financial counseling it is not unusual to encounter people who have not balanced their check books in months and are confident that there is plenty of money there.
4. Conscience is not a safe guide in the mater of selecting a mate.
1. No one goes into a marriage thinking that it will fail. We marry because we are sure that she is MISS RIGHT OR MR RIGHT.
2. And yet broken homes, hearts and hopes attest to the fact that conscience is not a safe guide.
5. If conscience is not a safe guide in earthly affairs, how can it be safe in religion?
2. Conscience is a court not a guide. It is designed to convict us of doing wrong and get us to stop.
1. It doesn't make the laws.

Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Corinthians 2:6-13 ⁶ However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." ¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. ¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2. It excuses or accuses according to the law it has been taught.
3. The Dangers of the conscious
1. It 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.

2. It can be seared.

1 Timothy 4:2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

3. It can be incorrectly taught

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."

Acts 24:16 "This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

4. Conscience is formed by teaching, example and cultural influence.
5. An incorrectly taught conscience is a dangerous guide.
6. An incorrectly taught conscience can lead us to teach and practice false doctrine:
7. To be a save guide, it must be properly taught and not calloused.
4. Conscience is essential.
1. False teaching = false conscience.
1. To doubt and do is sin Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
2. To think something is right doesn't make it right.

LESSONS:

1. The Bible is the only safe guide for our conscience

1. It sanctifies John 17:17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
2. It purifies 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
3. It frees men John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
4. It Saves us James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
5. It must be obeyed Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
6. It judges us John 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
7. Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
8. Conscience will not overrule the word in the judgment (Matt 7:22).

1. Finally never violate a properly taught conscience.

1. To violate the conscience can block the road to repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:10-11 For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. ¹¹ For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

James 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

2. To violate the conscience will lead to more sin.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, ¹⁰ but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

3. Moderation means the ability to blush.
4. Explain how Satan gets us used to sin like pornography,