The faculty, given to every individual, that is capable of producing guilt, or reassurance in the case of innocence. Though never wholly reliable, the conscience is cleansed when the individual turns to God for forgiveness. It is possible for the conscience to become deadened through lack of use.
The natural conscience
Romans 2:14–15 Human beings have a built-in ability to know what is right and wrong.
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
Guilty consciences
Genesis 42:21 See also Exodus 9:27; 1 Samuel 24:5; 2 Samuel 24:10; Ezra 9:6; Psalm 40:12; John 8:7–11
Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”
Clear consciences
Before God
Acts 24:16 See also Job 27:6; Acts 23:1; Romans 9:1; 2 Timothy 1:3
In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
Before others
2 Corinthians 1:12 See also Genesis 20:5–6; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 Timothy 1:5, 1 Timothy 3:9; Hebrews 13:18; 1 Peter 3:16; 1 Corinthians 4:4 Conscience is not an infallible guide and a clear conscience does not necessarily imply innocence before God.
For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God — not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
Consciences cleansed by the death of Jesus Christ
Hebrews 9:14 See also Psalm 51:10; Hebrews 9:9, Hebrews 10:2, Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
Bad or corrupted consciences
Titus 1:15–16 See also Genesis 6:5; Exodus 7:14, Exodus 8:15; Jeremiah 6:15, Jeremiah 17:9; Acts 5:2; Romans 2:5; Ephesians 4:19; 1 Timothy 1:19, 1 Timothy 4:2
To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.