Your Conscience – Is it Reliable?

If all we had to keep us in the grace of God was our conscience, we could perhaps say that our conscience is a reliable source of direction that we can depend on.

However, God knew that our conscience would not be enough to make us perfect, so He gave us His Word.

Never in our Holy Bible does it say that we are to live by our conscience. Moses said the following:

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Deuteronomy 8:3

Jesus said also:

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

We don't live by our conscience alone. God has given us a conscience and His Word, so that with both we can be made in the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. We must have both!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30

EXAMPLES

Those in the Flood – How many people were there, in the days before God flooded the world, who had a conscience sensitized to obey God's Spirit? Only one! Noah! Because of his obedience, he saved himself, his family, and their families, i.e., his son's wives.

And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. Genesis 6:17-18

Kind David – Did David (one of the greatest men who ever lived) have enough conviction from his conscience to keep him from taking another man's wife, and subsequently, having her husband murdered? No!

And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. II Samuel 11:3-4

Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. II Samuel 12:9

GUARDING OUR CONSCIENCE

Some can make their conscience inoperative by not obeying it.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. I Timothy 4:1-3

Acquaintances can cause us to override our conscience by telling us things about ourselves that are good, even though they aren't true, and can cause us to make mistakes. Our minds have certain sensibilities that affect our decision-making processes. Sometimes those sensibilities are very strong, sometimes not so strong, sometimes they are weak (a weak conscience), and those are the ones we tend to delegate to the back of our minds. God's Spirit, when He speaks to our minds or conscience, speaks mostly like the Voice Elijah heard – a still, small voice, and through His written Word.

And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? I Kings 19:12-13

When we are disobedient, condemnation comes, depending on the spiritual sensitivity we possess.

(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 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;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel [i.e., God's Word]. Romans 2:13-16

The ultimate authority is God's Word, rightly divided.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:9-13

If we don't receive God's word this way, it can lead to utter destruction for us, which can take God's blessing from us.

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. II Peter 3:15-17

Our conscience can work to keep us in the good and right way, but sometimes it is not enough. Our fleshly nature can at times override our conscience, so we need that extra source of strength and power: God's Word!

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God is more sure than our conscience.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. II Peter 1:19-21

IN CONCLUSION:

When we continue obeying God's Word, by what God has revealed to us, we will have a clear conscience.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 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. I Peter 3:15-16

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:21-22

At times, even our best efforts in serving God can fall short of His perfect will. When we fail, we must pick ourselves up, ask for forgiveness, repent (quit doing the sin that causes us to fail) and go on in the grace of God!

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Proverbs 24:16

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Hell: The Worst Place to Be

Did you know that originally, God made Hell for the Devil and his angels (demons)? Hell was not made for man until sin entered in through Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:41

Hell is also the place where those who are sinners and wicked go after their death on Earth, ( ie. if they don't repent ! ).

Some people say that there is no Hell, there is no place of torment after death, and that we are actually living in Hell now. Some say that Hell is the grave. Others say that hell is a temporary place to go until something happens to make God let you out. If you believe in God's Holy Word (the KJV), you know that these beliefs are completely untrue.

According to God's Word, there is no worse place than Hell, and once there, there is no escape nor comfort anymore!

This is perhaps the best illustration of Hell as a place in eternity for those who die lost and never repent (i.e., quit sinning).

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:19-31

Hell is a place with fire, a place of torment, a place that is very hot. Worst of all, it is a place of Eternity. In this passage of Scripture, we also see the power of God's Word. Abraham, in effect, told the rich man that even a great miracle of someone returning from the dead to witness to the lost is not as effective as those who speak God's words, and at times have miracles following.

Here is another vivid description of Hell, where its occupants are tormented all day and all night.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10

Hell is a very bad place to wind up when life on Earth is over! The worst place!

Who will go to Hell?

Anyone who dies unsaved will go to Hell. All who are not believers in Christ Jesus when they die will go to Hell.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

All who are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life will end up in Hell.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 21:11-15.

All of us will be judged by God. Some will enter into everlasting life; some will enter into everlasting damnation.

All who live wickedly will be sent to Hell.

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17

Paradise

There are some doctrines that teach that there is a place of rest in the center of the Earth, and that some people who don't go straight to Heaven when they die go there to be made worthy of being transferred to Heaven at a later time (Purgatory).

At one time in our Bible history, there was such a place, called Paradise, where all who were righteous, and even some who the Bible calls "sometime disobedient", went after death. (Refer back to the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus went to Abraham's bosom; Abraham was in Paradise.) Jesus Himself went to Paradise to preach to the people there and afterwards He took them to Heaven.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43 ( Jesus during his crucifixion speaking to one of the thieves next to him )

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:8-10

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. I Peter 3:18-20

King David even prophesied that Christ would descend when He died.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Psalm 16:10

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. Acts 2:29-31

Just in case someone is not sure that David was speaking prophetically of Christ, the Apostle Peter just cleared it up for us.

In Conclusion

Who has the power to send people to Hell? Only One, God Almighty, our Father!

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: II Peter 2:4-9

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Luke 12:5

It is imperative that we fear God, which will keep us from sinning, so that we can enter into Heaven instead of Hell, when we die. May God help us to do the things necessary to receive eternal life with Him, in Jesus' name. Amen!

God’s Love – Unconditional?

As a young man, I was told by most of the Christian people I knew, "God's love is unconditional." Now that I'm no longer a young man, I still hear this from most well-meaning Christian folks.

It would really be nice if that were the truth, from God's Holy Word, but unfortunately, according to scriptural authority this is completely untrue. I know this subject is not going to set well with most Christians, and even with some non-Christian people, but isn't it better to know the truth about God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ?

By the grace of Jesus my Lord, I will tell you the truth and nothing but the whole truth, from the only true Word of God, the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

The Bible tells us in many places that not only is His love conditional, but so is everything else we receive from God. The argument made about this subject is based on some Scriptures, but we know that no one verse of Scripture stands alone. Not even two or three, in this case.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. II Peter 1:20-21

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:9-13

Some people use Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

But what you rarely hear is verse 10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Do you see that? We must bring forth good works! I know that when we are saved initially, there is nothing we can boast about, no works of righteousness that led us to salvation. However, as we progress in our Christian walk we certainly have a lot of work to do, with the help of Jesus Christ. This is a little off the subject, so let's get back to seeing whether or not God's love is unconditional.

Let's look at the words of Jesus Christ, Himself.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him…Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:15-21, 23

Note the underlined portion. Does that look like Jesus put a condition on His love? Yes, He said that to love Him, we must keep His commandments and His words, and then we would be loved. Let's look further into the scriptures.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:9-10

Jesus said for us to continue, or abide, in His love. To do it, we have to keep His commandments and His words. Sounds like a condition, yes?

Using John 3:16, many people say that God just loves everybody in the world. God does love the world as a whole, enough to make a way of salvation for us. But God does not love everyone in the world individually. If He did, why did He create a lake of fire where people are tormented day and night? Why is there so much suffering and loss in this world if God loves everybody? Jesus spoke about the world in John 17:6-9:

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Jesus said He prayed for those who keep His word, who are separated to Him, apart from the world and the sin and lust of it. Also, read John 17:14-17 for more about those who God loves in the world. Another good place to read is I John 2:15-17. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the truth!

The Old Testament gives us a more detailed and forceful look at God's love in Isaiah 63:8-10.

For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

God speaks of loving and saving His people; however, when they rebelled (conditional) He turned to be their enemy and fought against them. Here is another sobering example of God's love and favor being conditional.

All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters. Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. Hosea 9:15-16

God says in Verse 15, "I will love them no more." It doesn't get much plainer than that. The word "unconditional" means: Not limited in any way. In other words, people make the argument that no matter what we do, God will always love us. Not true, according to the Bible.

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6

God does not change! He is still the same today (New Testament) as He was yesterday (Old Testament), and will be the same tomorrow (Eternity).

His love was, is, and always will be conditional, based on whether or not we keep His commandments and His words.

There are many more scriptures which prove that God's love is conditional. I hope that you will take heed to His Word as the truth and that God will love you and keep you in His love always.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Romans 11:22

Conditional! Not Unconditional!