Some people can lie and never lose any sleep. They can steal and do other things, and it never seems to upset them. How can some people do evil things and not be disturbed about them? The answer could be that they have an evil conscience.
Read: Hebrews 10:22
The writer of Hebrews used Old Testament symbolism to convey a New Testament truth. When the priest was ministering in the tabernacle, he had to wash his hands and his feet at the laver so he would not defile the tabernacle. You and I, when we fellowship with the Lord, must be sure that we are washed clean also, not outwardly, but inwardly. "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts." (cf. Ps. 51:6a). This evening, I want us to consider the "evil conscience".
I. What is an Evil Conscience?
A. It is the opposite of a good conscience.
1. This seems like a simple answer, but it is true.
2. A good conscience is one that is effective: it convicts us when we have done wrong, and it encourages us when we have done right.
3. An evil conscience encourages the person too, when he does wrong!
B. Note: Isaiah 5:20
1. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
2. That is an excellent description of a person with an evil conscience!
3. So an evil conscience is one that substitutes that which is wrong for that which is right.
4. The standard by which it judges is faulty and the result is a conscience that fails to work in the way God had planned for it to work.
II. Causes of an Evil Conscience.
A. An improper concept of God and of sin.
1. People take lightly the Word of God, especially that part that condemns sinful activity;
2. Which results in them not being serious about sin.
3. As a person begins to think improperly about God and sin...it is a short step to improper and sinful behavior.
B. There are other terms to describe this.
Titus 1:15, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."
1. A conscience is defiled because of a defiled mind.
1 Timothy 4:2, "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"
2. As a result of continued sin, a defiled conscience becomes "seared" and insensitive to sin.
3. When your skin in burned, it develops a callused area of scar tissue, and that area loses its sensitivity.
III. Evidences of an Evil Conscience.
A. Playing with sin, and not taking sin seriously.
B. Shallow confession and shallow repentance which is really just excuses for their sin.
C. Measuring sin...someone might say, "Well, I never committed a BIG sin!"
D. Arguing with the Truth.
1. Some even misuse the Bible to support their sin!
2. Sometimes even professing Christians do this.
The only hope for an evil conscience is the blood of Christ. We can always come to the Lord and have ouor hearts cleansed. We must first confess honestly before God and demonstrate an attitude of true repentance.
Hebrews 9:14, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?