CLEAN CONSCIENCE While we are human, and we violate a law and we dont receive a discipline, or punishment, we feel guilty,

and this is a form of self-punishment CONSCIENCE CONS = have perception, knowledge of the facts SCIENCE = knowledge Conscience: the recognition or perception of what goes on in us. Realize the judgment of our actions in mind and heart so that we can discern right from wrong Clean conscience: Being right with God and your neighbor, being at peace with yourself, require forgiveness for what torments our mind. Psalm 32 Verse 1-2 The forgiveness of God. A man is only blessed when he confesses and receives forgiveness. This is possible in Jesus! Verse 3 David refers to his adultery with the wife of Uriah and his sequent sins of which he tried to free himself from guilt (II Sam 11) Verse 4 Heavy Conscience Verse 5 David lives a battle to recognize his sin, battles against pride and his own reputation Recognizing our own limits is a sign of humility! Verse 6 The man who fears the Lord in his heart, knows that in God, we find the source of forgiveness When we have a peaceful conscience before God, we can deal with the problems! Verse 7 When were in sin, in battle, we dont look for a hiding place in God, but instead we justify, or try to compensate the guilt. Verse 8 & 9 Have a teachable heart to God. A conscience that is not clean, blocks the spiritual growth Verse 10 The ungodly has to carry his own guilt Verse 11 Challenge to keep an upright heart. David recognizes that hes a failure and sinner. With the fall of sin, this conscience suffered adjustments, because the conscience connects us directly to free will (Gen 2:15,17) We can only use our free will when were in front of 2 options (of a choice), the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil would be a test of the Free Will of men, and his choice was to violate, and he started living the conflict of good and evil. The conscience of men was launched to his own luck. The weight of the conscience is not necessarily connected to sin, but to the transgression of patterns that were established for us. After the fall of sin God worked to help men to establish a parameter between good and evil. The dealing with the drama of choosing the good things. Genesis 4:1-8 First mention of sin after the fall of sin. Men were able to discern between
good and evil, and to choose the good. Verse 1 Cain is born (natural man) Verse 2a Abel was born (spiritual man)

Abel = pastor/ Cain = farmer/works the land Verse 3 Cain brings his offering = fruit of the soil Verse 4a Abel brings his offering = first of the flock Verse 4a God was pleased with Abel Verse 5a God is not pleased with Cain Verse 5b Cains attitude was wrong, he didnt choose the right attitude (heart intention) Verse 6 Dialogue of God with Cain Verse 7 God shows Cain what he himself already knew in his conscience
Verse 2b

God gives a warning: PROCEED with good with evil will be accepted sin is at the door

The responsibility that God gives Cain was to govern over his own feelings (will/wish). The natural man is inclined to do evil. But in this all, the grace of God enables us to choose good and to reign over our own sentiments (evil). Verse 8 Cain lets himself lead by his own desire to kill his brother The battle of sin starts at the conscience level, the battle to choose between good and evil Everyone is responsible for his own sins and choices. INFLUENCE IS NOT AN OBLIGATION Gods principles are Absolute, human standards are Relative. Without Christ we reject guilt, compensate, self punishing, blaming others (Ez. 18:2,3), the captives in Jerusalem were blaming their fathers for their suffering. In Jesus we can identify sin, recognize our own responsibility, confess, receive the forgiveness of God in grace and have self-control over our desire. Every past that is confessed and goes through repentance is forgiven.! PRESENT Without Christ With Christ Pit+pit Atonement of guilt by Sequence of confession sins and Frustrated forgiveness attempts of Free of solution feelings of Deny guilt, guilt justify, etc Responsibility of selfcontrol FUTURE (Consequences of right choices) Free from the past New choices, new creation Growth, remission Memories without pain Own identity Living knowing a God that transform

PAST (Absence of light) Influences of the midst (Experiences)

WHY DOES GOD GIVE US A CONSCIENCE? 1) To guide us in what is right and wrong prov 20:27, Rom 2:14-15

2) To alert us about sin matter of violating the Divine law I Sam. 24:5-10 We see the influence of the men of David, that were wrong, but David thought it was a good counsel, but he realized of the initiative he took. The light of conscience knocks at his heart (verse5) 3) That we might have a truthful testimony Acts 24:16 Fruit of a clean conscience, like the apostle Paul before the governor. The conscience is the first to receive our testimony ( II Cor 1:12) To have a clean conscience is to have the tranquility in knowing we have internal peace, the result of right choices before God and men, and confession of the wrong things to receive forgiveness. I Tim. 1:19 Association of faith with a clean conscience, not having any thing left to deal with that can result in wreck in faith, or b it, leave the grace of God. Heb 13:18 Was written in a time of persecution, in which some Jews who converted to Christianity were wanting to go back to being Jewish. In moments of pressure we are tempted to try and work a way around our conscience, and this way diminish the standards of God in our life. I Pet 3:16 First talks about the proceeding of life and ends with the conscience, who brings forth a good proceeding. The lettr of Peter was written to the Christians in Asia, and Peter wrote them to stimulate them to have a constant joy amidst the persecution that was there because of the Emperor Nero. To have a clean conscience does not mean not to sin anymore, but to get your conscience right with God every day. Our choice must be base on the fear of the Lord Having a clean conscience, the devil wont be able any more to accuse us, because weve already made right with God. Acting like this, we will have a very successful life. RESULTS OF A CLEAN CONSCIENCE 1. Internal peace Rom 5:1 2. Testify with authority (testimony) Acts 23:1 3. Take right or correct decisions Negative Example: I Sam 10:8 Saul receives order of Samuel I Sam 13:8-10 Saul has a wrong attitude, not having a heart to obey (because of pressure, Saul was a king to the heart of the people, wanting his own benefit) Positive Example: Dan 1:5-8 Daniel made the right choice. He did not contaminate himself with things that would go against his conscience before God. He valued his good conscience during the whole time he was in Babylonia, even being pressured by king Darius, he didnt give in, He feared the Lord. 4. Good health Psalm 1:1-5 5. Not shipwreck faith I Tim 1:18,19 6. Pleasure in developing good friendships If we have a clean conscience, we can be transparent to others. HOW TO BURN YOUR CONSCIENCE

1. Insist in mistakes This practice become something normal after a while 2. Escape: compensate through things or people the internal pain caused by the committed mistake (sleep, drugs, drinking, study, etc) 3. Compensate: camouflaging activism, buying the justification of guilt 4. Self deceit: put the blame on others takes away our responsibility HOW CAN WE DETECT THE NECESSITY TO GET A CLEAN CONSCIENSCE When we have in our mind painful memories our hurtful remembrances we try to forget, because of the fear we encounter, because of the pain that if caused by those we repress. This way they come to our mind in scenes or mental pictures or also like dreams that always repeat themselves, causing emotional or spiritual instability. HOW TO GET A CLEAN CONSCIENCE Heb 9:14 Heb 9: 9-13 The sacrifices of the Old Testament were not effective regarding the conscience, but, in the New Testament it is effective through the blood of Jesus. Heb 10: 19-23 The way is open for the purification of the conscience, guilt, and painful memories STEPS: 1. Recognize that only in Jesus we can obtain purification 2. Recognize our mistake and assume responsibility 3. Confess our guilt to the Lord, that establishes and act against accusations of the devil. 4. Restitution: external form of forgiveness (Luke 19:1-10; James 5:16) Youre your own initiative to get your moral, spiritual, financial and affective wounds right with your neighbor 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 1. 2. 3. 4. EXCUSES AGAINST RESTITUTION It will cost everything I have! I will do it after it was such a small thing I wasnt the only guilty one Im a new creature Its my willingness that counts, and it wont happen again ah! I already asked God for forgiveness. STEPS TO RESTITUTION Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal our guilt (Write down so you wont forget) Identify the sin and confess it in repentance (Name the sin) Ask wisdom from God about restitution Be willing to fix everything (ask God for His grace)

For this is necessary: the grace of God, the right motivation, and the conviction of Gods forgiveness CONCLUSION He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. Prov 28:13,14