LIVING WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

LIVING WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: 2 Corinthians 7:11

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:11
“For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

Supporting Texts: Acts 24:16; Psalm 15:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 13:18; 1 John 3:19-21

Description: A clear conscience comes from living honestly before God, responding to conviction, correcting wrongs and maintaining integrity in every area of life.

INTRODUCTION

The conscience is an important part of human life because it bears witness to our actions, motives and choices. When we live according to God's truth, the conscience can testify that we have acted with integrity; but when we deliberately violate God's standards, the conscience can become troubled or defiled.

Paul told the Corinthians that their godly sorrow had produced “clearing of yourselves”. This means that their repentance brought a sincere desire to address what was wrong and demonstrate that they were no longer comfortable with the behaviour that had brought spiritual correction.

A clear conscience does not mean that a person has never made a mistake. It means that when wrong is discovered, the person is willing to confess it, correct it and walk in truth. God desires His children to live openly before Him and others, without hypocrisy, hidden guilt or deliberate compromise.

1. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE BEGINS WITH HONESTY BEFORE GOD

We cannot maintain a clear conscience while deliberately hiding sin from God. Spiritual integrity begins with honesty in His presence.

a. God Sees the Heart (1 Samuel 16:7) — God looks beyond outward appearance and examines the condition of the heart.

b. Walk in the Light (1 John 1:7) — Fellowship with God requires us to walk openly in His light rather than hide in darkness.

c. Confess Your Sin (1 John 1:9) — Honest confession opens the way for God's forgiveness and cleansing.

d. Do Not Hide Sin (Proverbs 28:13) — Concealing sin prevents true spiritual freedom, while confession and forsaking sin bring mercy.

Biblical Example: David stopped hiding his sin and openly confessed his transgression before God (Psalm 32:3-5).

2. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE REQUIRES QUICK RESPONSE TO CONVICTION

A sensitive conscience should not be ignored. When God exposes something wrong, we should respond promptly rather than allowing our hearts to become hardened.

a. Listen to God's Voice (Hebrews 3:15) — We must respond to God's voice while our hearts are still sensitive.

b. Accept Correction (Proverbs 12:1) — A wise person welcomes correction because it helps preserve the right path.

c. Repent Quickly (Acts 3:19) — Repentance brings us back into alignment with God's will.

d. Do Not Harden Your Heart (Hebrews 3:13) — Repeatedly ignoring conviction can gradually make a person insensitive to spiritual correction.

Biblical Example: When David's heart convicted him after cutting Saul's robe, he immediately recognised that he had acted wrongly and restrained himself from further harm (1 Samuel 24:5-6).

3. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE REQUIRES RIGHTING WRONGS

Repentance is not complete when we merely admit that we were wrong. Where possible, we should take appropriate steps to correct the damage caused by our actions.

a. Make Restitution (Luke 19:8) — Zacchaeus demonstrated genuine repentance by restoring what he had wrongfully taken.

b. Seek Reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24) — When we have offended others, we should take steps towards reconciliation.

c. Correct Falsehood (Ephesians 4:25) — A clear conscience requires us to put away lies and speak truthfully.

d. Restore Trust Through Integrity (Proverbs 11:3) — Integrity guides our conduct and protects us from destructive consequences.

Biblical Example: Zacchaeus did not merely express regret; he took practical steps to correct his past wrongs (Luke 19:8-9).

4. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE PRODUCES INTEGRITY

Integrity means being the same person in private and public. A clear conscience is maintained when our actions consistently agree with God's truth.

a. Walk Uprightly (Psalm 15:1-2) — Those who desire to dwell in God's presence must walk uprightly and speak truth from the heart.

b. Practise Honesty (Proverbs 12:22) — God delights in truthful conduct and rejects deceitful speech.

c. Keep Your Word (Psalm 15:4) — Integrity requires faithfulness even when keeping our word becomes inconvenient.

d. Refuse Double Living (James 1:8) — Spiritual instability often results when a person attempts to live according to two conflicting standards.

Biblical Example: Samuel could publicly ask Israel to testify if he had wronged or defrauded anyone, demonstrating the confidence of a life lived with integrity (1 Samuel 12:1-5).

5. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE REQUIRES PURITY OF MOTIVES

It is possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason. God is concerned not only about what we do but also about why we do it.

a. Serve With a Pure Heart (1 Timothy 1:5) — Christian service should flow from love, a pure heart and a good conscience.

b. Reject Hypocrisy (Matthew 6:1) — Our spiritual actions should not be motivated merely by the desire for human applause.

c. Examine Your Motives (Psalm 139:23-24) — We should regularly invite God to search our hearts and reveal wrong motives.

d. Seek God's Approval (Galatians 1:10) — A clear conscience is maintained when God's approval matters more than human recognition.

Biblical Example: Paul testified that he served God with a clear conscience, seeking to remain faithful to the truth entrusted to him (2 Timothy 1:3).

6. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE GIVES SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE

When we know that we have honestly dealt with wrongdoing and are walking according to God's truth, we can approach God with greater confidence.

a. Have Confidence Before God (1 John 3:21-22) — A heart that does not condemn us gives us confidence before God.

b. Approach God Boldly (Hebrews 10:22) — We can draw near with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith.

c. Pray With Confidence (1 John 5:14) — Confidence in prayer grows when our desires are aligned with God's will.

d. Serve Without Hidden Guilt (Hebrews 13:18) — A good conscience strengthens our confidence as we serve God and His people.

Biblical Example: Paul could testify before rulers that he had lived with a clear conscience before God and people (Acts 24:16).

7. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE PROTECTS OUR TESTIMONY

Our testimony before others is strengthened when our private conduct agrees with our public confession of faith.

a. Be an Example (1 Timothy 4:12) — Believers should demonstrate Christlike conduct in speech, behaviour, love, faith and purity.

b. Live Honestly Before Unbelievers (1 Peter 2:12) — Good conduct can cause others to glorify God.

c. Avoid Giving Offence (2 Corinthians 6:3) — We should live carefully so that our conduct does not unnecessarily bring reproach upon the Gospel.

d. Maintain a Good Reputation (Proverbs 22:1) — A good name is valuable and should be protected through consistent integrity.

Biblical Example: Daniel's enemies could not find corruption in his public life, so they had to attack his faithfulness to God (Daniel 6:4-5).

8. A CLEAR CONSCIENCE MUST BE MAINTAINED DAILY

A clear conscience is not something we establish once and then neglect. We must continually examine our lives and keep short accounts with God.

a. Examine Yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5) — Regular spiritual examination helps us identify areas that require correction.

b. Keep Your Heart Pure (Proverbs 4:23) — We must guard our inner life because it influences everything we do.

c. Walk in Daily Obedience (John 14:15) — Obedience to Christ helps us maintain a healthy relationship with Him.

d. Finish With Faithfulness (2 Timothy 4:7) — Our goal should be to maintain integrity until the end of our journey.

Biblical Example: Paul could look back over his ministry and testify that he had served God with a conscience that was clear before Him (Acts 23:1).

CONCLUSION

Living with a clear conscience does not mean living a perfect life; it means living an honest, repentant and obedient life before God. When we discover wrongdoing, we should not hide it, defend it or continue in it. We should confess it, correct what we can and return to the path of righteousness.

A clear conscience strengthens our fellowship with God, gives confidence in prayer, protects our testimony and makes us more effective in Christian service. Let us therefore maintain integrity in our thoughts, motives, words, relationships and actions. May we be able to say with Paul that we exercise ourselves to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards people.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, give me grace to live honestly and transparently before You, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, search my heart and expose anything that is displeasing to You, in Jesus name.

3. Father, give me grace to respond quickly whenever You correct me, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, help me to correct every wrong that I have the opportunity to correct, in Jesus name.

5. Father, make me a person of integrity in private and in public, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, purify my motives and remove every form of hypocrisy from my life, in Jesus name.

7. Father, give me confidence to approach You with a clean and sincere heart, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, protect my testimony from anything that can bring reproach to Your name, in Jesus name.

9. Father, help me to maintain a clear conscience throughout my Christian journey, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, let me finish my course faithfully with a conscience void of offence before You and people, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall walk before God with a clear and sincere conscience.

2. Every hidden issue that could damage your fellowship with God shall be exposed and dealt with.

3. You shall receive grace to respond quickly to divine correction.

4. You shall walk in integrity in private and in public.

5. Your motives shall be purified and your heart shall remain sincere before God.

6. You shall enjoy confidence in the presence of God.

7. Your testimony shall remain strong and honourable.

8. You shall not be trapped by hypocrisy or double living.

9. You shall maintain a clear conscience throughout your Christian journey.

10. You shall finish your course faithfully and bring glory to the name of Jesus.