The Scripture concludes the reason why the earth got defiled is that they have transgressed the laws of God, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant; therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate – Isaiah 24:5,6,19,22 – the cause is clear “SIN” – Gen 3:7/Rom 7:7,9/Heb 10:2 – for sin is the transgression (violation) of the law (1 John 3:4).
The mighty Oceans has its own boundary decreed upon that it should not breach – Pro 8:29/Ps 104:9/Job 38:10,11/Jeremiah 5:22. The truth is, it is breached often, isn’t it? Eg: Tidal Waves or Tsunami
Nature has its own laws (constraints) – Isaiah 24:5,6,19,22/Rom 8:19-22 – but hadn’t millions upon millions perished so far and continues, due to natural disasters?
Animals and the insect world have their own instincts too and they devour one another.
For the creature was made subject to vanity (the bondage of corruption – Rom 8:21) – for we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now (Rom 8: 20,22). The world is made chaotic by the one rebellious entity – Satan – Isaiah 14:16,17; but the last Adam, Jesus Christ brought in Shalom, which means, destroyed/incapacitated the authority that created chaos – Hebrews 2:14/Col 2:15.
Likewise, CONSCIENCE is the extent to, which man can act and work. Negotiating is an act of self-termination, so to speak. Man has been graciously bestowed with a unique persona, the Conscience (the line/the region which differentiates right and wrong/ good and bad – or could it be the effect of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil? – Gen 2:17/3:22 – “innocence” has been replaced with “conscience of sin”). Now breach of this region “conscience” will invite its dreadful consequences.
We are aware that God has established physical laws, natural laws, and spiritual laws – and breach of any of these areas has its own implications.
Murder is an act, which is done in opposition to one’s conscience, which is the guardian or the safety switch of the soul.
Transgression of the 10 commandments is a breach of the conscience!
“Conscience” is the court of law where you receive judgments – for example, Judas Iscariot – he was condemned, wasn’t he? By whom? His own conscience – Matt 27:3/1John 3:20,21/John 8:9.
Hence if we judge ourselves – Rom 2:15 – (in one sense, to examine/prove/discipline our own selves and change – 2 Cor 13:5 – the other one is “diakrino” – to separate thoroughly/to withdraw from sin and world, contend for the faith, etc… that we may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless – 2 Peter 3:14) – then we shall not be judged OR be condemned with the world – 1Cor 11:31,32
That is why maintaining a clear conscience is inevitable and vital/indispensable – Acts 24:16/1Tim 1:19
Puritans believed that an educated conscience is absolutely necessary to spiritual health. This meant knowing the moral requirements of God so that your conscience supports you when you are doing right and condemns you when you are doing wrong – J. I Packer
The devils’ (the tempter – Matt 4:3/1Thess 3:5) sole objective is to stir us/lure/seduce to breach this divinely instituted wall of security
Breach of this region would bring calamity/destruction to oneself.
The devil is as active as our fallen self/nature. He has the leverage to work because of the law of sin, which is in our members – Rom 7:23. Hence, the eternal Spirit enjoins/instructs us to renew the spirit of our minds – Eph 4:23/Rom 12:2 – and let not (allow/permit) not sin reign in our mortal body – Rom 6:12 – for in Christ we have the upper hand over sin – Rom 6:14 – its dominion/power over us is broken.
He who commits sin is of the devil – 1John 3:8 – commits (continue in sin/take pleasure in sin, without being remorseful – whose mind and conscience is defiled) = disregards the natural law of mind – Rom 1:21/2:14,15
Whosoever is born of God sinneth not – for he keeps himself (by the Spirit of God – walks in the Spirit – Rom 8:4-6/Gal 5:16) and the wicked one touches him not – 1John 5:18 – it is talking about our spirit man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness – Eph 4:24. Whosoever transgresses (who commits sin – 1John 3:4), and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God (2 John 1:9) – for the law is written in our hearts – Rom 2:14,15/Heb 10:16 – and our conscience now bear witness – Rom 2:15. Therefore, whom we yield ourselves, servants, to obey determines the outcome – Rom 6:16
- John 8:9 – being convicted by their own conscience
- Acts 24:16/23:1 – void of offense toward God
- Rom 2:14,15/9:1/13:5
- 1Cor 8:12 – weak conscience
- 1Tim 1:19/3:9/4:2 – conscience seared (singed, dry out, lost sensitivity)(disregarded)
2Tim 1:3 – serve God with a pure conscience (the conscience got purged – Heb 10:2 – perfected the conscience – Heb 9:9 – baptized to walk in newness of life – Rom 6:4 – which is the answer of a good conscience toward God – 1Pet 3:21 – our heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience – Heb 10:22)
Conscience defiled – but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure, but even their mind and conscience are defiled (Titus 1:15) – “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil!” (Isa. 5:20) – the effect of the conscience being defiled!
The worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins (Heb 10:2), but the old Testament believers even after offering sacrifices continually their conscience weren’t purged. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats could take away sins (Heb 10:4) – but the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, had purged our conscience from dead works to serve the living God – Heb 9:14/1Pet 1:2.
Importance of a having a good conscience – 1Tim 1:5/Heb 13:18
Endure grief for conscience sake – 1Pet 2:19/3:16,21/2Cor 1:12/4:2/5:11,12 – Holding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made a shipwreck – 1Tim 1:9.
If the conscience gets smeared you will lose “pangs of conscience” which is “penitence” – contriteness of heart – Ps 34:18/51:17/Isaiah 57:15/66:2