What the Bible Says About Conscience

• Witnesses in man.
  
  Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
  Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

• Accuses of sin.
  
  Genesis 42:21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
  2 Samuel 24:10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
  Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
  Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

• We should have the approval of.
  
  Job 27:6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
  Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
  Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
  Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

• The blood of Christ alone can purify.
  
  Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
  Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
  3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
  4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
  5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
  6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
  7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
  8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
  9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
  10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
  Hebrews 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.

• Keep the faith in purity of.
  
  1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
  1 Timothy 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

• Of saints, pure and good.
  
  Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
  1 Peter 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
  1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

• Submit to authority for.
  
  Romans 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

• Suffer patiently for.
  
  1 Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

• Testimony of, a source of joy.
  
  2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
  1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

• Of others, not to be offended.
  
  Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
  1 Corinthians 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
  29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
  30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
  31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
  32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: .

• Ministers should commend themselves to that of their people.
  
  2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, 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.
  2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

• Of the wicked, seared.
  
  1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

• Of the wicked, defiled.
  
  Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

• Without spiritual illumination, a false guide.
  
  Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
  Acts 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

—R. A. Torrey, Conscience, from the New Topical Textbook.