The state of being aware, especially of one's actions and motivations, or of the existence and concerns of others. All people have a general awareness or consciousness of God and of sin, but it is often suppressed or destroyed.
Consciousness of sin
Through the law
Romans 3:19–20 See also Romans 7:7–13; James 2:9–10
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
Through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit
John 16:8 See also 1 Corinthians 14:24–25; Jude 1:14–15
And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
Through comparison with God's righteousness
Psalm 143:2 See also Job 25:2–6; Psalm 130:3–4
Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
Consciousness of God
Through an innate knowledge of the creator
Romans 1:19–23 See also Acts 17:22–31; Romans 1:28; Ephesians 4:17–19
For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Through the revelation of God in nature
Acts 14:17 See also Psalm 19:1–6, Psalm 50:6
Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
Through observation of divine judgment
Ezekiel 6:13 See also Psalm 83:16–18; Ezekiel 29:6–9, Ezekiel 39:6
Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every green tree and leafy oak— the places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols.
Through observation of divine blessing
Joshua 4:23–24 See also Exodus 7:5; Deuteronomy 4:35; Isaiah 52:9–10
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as He did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may always fear the LORD your God.”
Lack of consciousness
Job 14:10–12 See also Psalm 6:5, Psalm 30:9, Psalm 31:17, Psalm 88:10–12, Psalm 115:17–18; Ecclesiastes 9:5–6, Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 38:18–19
But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he? As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry, so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.
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.