A CONSCIENCE VOID

Acts 24:16
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.

This shows there will be a resurrection to a final judgment. Prophets and their doctrines were to be tried by their fruits. Paul's aim was to have a conscience void of offence. His care and endeavour was to abstain from many things, and to abound in the exercises of religion at all times; both towards God. and towards man.

Romans 9:1
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

He speaks as in the presence of Christ, with a conscience enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

Being about to discuss the rejection of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles, and to show that the whole agrees with the sovereign electing love of God, the apostle expresses strongly his affection for his people. He solemnly appeals to Christ; and his conscience, enlightened and directed by the Holy Spirit, bore witness to his sincerity.

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.

He could boast that in his conduct everywhere, and at Corinth as well, he had acted with purity of purpose, integrity, and under the guidance of God. He appeals to his singleness of purpose, because a charge had been made against him.

I am conscious of my integrity. Even in the deepest adversity,no matter what others think. Having one end in view, aiming singly at the glory of God. Without any tincture of guile, dissimulation, or disguise. Not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God - Not by natural, but divine, wisdom.

Though, as a sinner, the apostle could only rejoice and glory in Christ Jesus, yet, as a believer, he might rejoice and glory in being really what he professed. Conscience witnesses concerning the steady course and tenor of the life. Thereby we may judge ourselves, and not by this or by that single act. Our conversation will be well ordered, when we live and act under such a gracious principle in the heart. Having this, we may leave our characters in the Lord's hands, but using proper means to clear them, when the credit of the gospel, or our usefulness, calls for it.

Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

He refers to his uprightness of life perhaps because he had been arrested as an evil doer in Jerusalem (Acts 21:33 24:5).

A good conscience has respect to all God's commands, and all our duty. Those who have this good conscience, yet need the prayers of others.

1 Timothy 1:5, 19
(5) Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

There is neither love without a good conscience, nor a good conscience without faith, nor faith without the word of God.

The foundation is faith; the end, love. But this can only subsist in an heart purified by faith, and is always attended with a good conscience.

Whatever tends to weaken love to God, or love to the brethren, tends to defeat the end of the commandment. The design of the gospel is answered, when sinners, through repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ, are brought to exercise Christian love.

(19) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Whoever does not keep a good conscience, loses also by little and little, the gift of understanding.

Faith is an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Heb 6:19).

May all who are tempted to put away a good conscience, and to abuse the gospel, remember that this is the way to make shipwreck of faith also. These, therefore, were once true believers: yet they fell not only foully, but finally; for ships once wrecked cannot be afterwards saved.

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:

The conscience being sanctified, may freely call upon God. Through the water of baptism we are saved from the sin which overwhelms the world as a flood: not, indeed, the bare outward sign, but the inward grace; a divine consciousness that both our persons and our actions are accepted through him who died and rose again for us. The soul seeking the forgiveness of sins inquires What shall I do to remove the sense of unforgiven sins and make my conscience void of offense? The answer is Repent and be baptized.

The three things essential to a pure and holy love are:
(1) A pure heart;
(2) a good conscience;
(3) sincere faith.

God's Blessings to each of you,
rECj/LJG

SOURCE: King James Bible, Easton's Bible Dictionary