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" WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE " ?
The Bible [ does ] hold the answers ! SO - what is the difference between your conscience and being conscious?
You have something on your conscience when you feel guilty.
Your conscience tells you the difference between right and wrong.
You are conscious when you are awake and conscious of something
when you are aware of it.
“ Conscience “ is a cognitive process that elicits emotion and rational associations based on an individual's moral philosophy or value system. Conscience stands in contrast to elicited emotion or thought due to associations based on immediate sensory perceptions and reflexive responses, as in sympathetic CNS responses. Central nervous system (CNS) In the Book of John 8:9, we see “ conscience “ mentioned. JESUS was at the mount of olives, teaching. The Pharisee and scribes came to him
With a woman who had been taken in adultery. In verse 4, they say to JESUS:
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. “ CONSCIENCE “ - Self-knowledge that leads to feel an obligation to do right
Or be good. It is an awareness or sense that an action or attitude is right or wrong. We see “ conscience “ again mentioned in Romans 2:15
14 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:
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;) Then we see it expressed yet again here in: 1Corinthians 8:10
“For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;”
These verses show that the Lord has placed knowledge of Himself within the heart of each human being. Humanity knows intuitively the difference between good and evil, right and wrong. Furthermore, they know from their conscience that they will ultimately be held responsible for their behavior.
Both Jews And Gentiles Receive God's Truth Through The Conscience
Scripture says that both Jews and Gentiles will be held responsible for what they know.
The Jews, who have received the written Word of God, will be judged accordingly.
The Gentiles, however, have not been given a written Word from God. They will be judged on a different standard.
Their judgment will be based upon an unwritten law-that which is written on their hearts. Their own conscience will act like a prosecuting attorney. It will make it clear they are guilty before God because of their sin. Therefore all are without excuse.
Therefore, the human conscience gives testimony to a God's existence.
The Conscience Is An Insufficient Testimony
While conscience testifies to God's existence, it is insufficient for a couple of reasons. They include the following.
The Conscience Does Not Provide Any Personal Knowledge Of God
Although conscience indicates the existence of God, it does not provide any personal knowledge of Him. There is no specific testimony as to which God exists or how we can know Him. Again, the identity of God is not revealed.
The Conscience Is A Fallible Witness
Second, our conscience is fallible because it has been corrupted by sin. The Bible speaks of the conscience of humans as being weak. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.
It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled (1 Corinthians 8:7).
Paul also spoke of consciences that were seared.
Through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2).
Because the human conscience has been marred by sin people seek others ways to worship God that God does not accept. They build temples, shrines, and worship idols in an attempt to please God. Yet there efforts do not glorify God. Paul wrote.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles (Romans 1:21-23).
Only Jesus Christ Can Cleanse The Conscience
Until a person comes to knowledge of Jesus Christ, their conscience will be an insufficient guide to truth about God. Our conscience needs to be cleansed from sin. The writer to the Hebrews stated.
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death (Hebrews 9:14).
In another place he wrote.
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22).
To the church at Corinth Paul wrote.
We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 4:2).
Church Leaders Need A Clear Conscience
Paul said the following about qualifications of church leaders.
They must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience (1 Timothy 3:9).
When a person comes to Jesus Christ, their conscience can function as it was originally created. Otherwise the conscience cannot correctly lead them to worship the true God.
Only Humans Are Made In The Image Of God
Only human beings have been made in the image of God. The first chapter of Genesis tells us that God made humanity in the Divine image.
Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:26,27).
In many ways we reflect God. This includes our sense of right and wrong. This moral sense that each human possesses causes them to seek to worship something. Yet the human conscience, by itself, does not tell us enough about whom we should worship.
Summary
The human conscience tells us what is right and what is wrong. The Bible says that it testifies to God's existence. Both Jews and Gentiles have the testimony of their conscience as to the fact that there is a God. However, by itself, the conscience is an insufficient guide. The conscience tells us that God exists but it does not tell us who that God is. The conscious is also a fallible witness because it has been corrupted by sin. Once a person comes to Jesus Christ as their Savior their conscience can function as it was originally created. * I always forget to say this, but from now on, I want [ everyone ] to understand the following verse And apply it to EVERYTHING you read, see, or study. Within OR Outside of the bible. And that verse is: ACTS 17:11. Understand it - and Apply it everyday ! GOD Bless !
https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Consciousness