Jesus Suffered & Died to Give Us a Clear Conscience-- Heb 9:14
I can’t think of too many more relevant subjects in today’s culture than that of conscience. A dirty conscience is as old as Adam and Eve. As soon as they sinned in the Garden their conscience was defiled. The same is true with us.
What were the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin?
* First, their sense of guilt was ruinous and it negatively affected their once very good relationship with God—and that’s why we were all designed, to worship God and enjoy Him forever. They hid themselves from God.
* Secondly, it ruined their relationship with each other—they blamed!
* Thirdly, it ruined there peace with themselves—for the first time they saw themselves and they felt shame.
The Bible is the best psychology book EVER! Think about what happened in the Garden and how relevant this is for us today. When we sin our conscience is pinged and we feel guilt, lose peace, and feel shame. Anyone relate? Anyone ever run and hide?
Think the Old Testament is irrelevant for today? Did you know the O.T. speaks of the conscience over and over again? The conscience has been part of mankind over all generations. In the O.T. animal sacrifices (a foreshadowing of Christ) could not clear the conscience. Animal sacrifices (the blood of animals) were sufficient for cleansing the flesh—the ceremonial uncleanness, but not the conscience. No animal blood could cleanse the conscience.
“This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.”—Heb 9:9-10
If no animal blood could cleanse the conscience, how did God provide the conscience to be cleansed of guilt, hopelessness, and shame?
First, God could have left us in this state of a dirty conscience. He could have…but He did not. Praise God! Again, when we didn’t deserve His love, He once again provided, giving us another example of how we need to relate to those who have violated us.
What God did was give us a new High Priest—Jesus the Son of God—with a better sacrifice than animals, He gave Himself!
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!—Heb 9:14
The death of the Son reaches back and covers ALL the sins of God’s people in the old time period, and forward to cover ALL the sins of the new time period, which is today.
How many of us do not feel good enough to come to God?
Ask yourself this question. Well, here’s the answer—WE’RE NOT! We are not good enough to come to Him. This in and of itself is profound to all people. Why? Because NO sacrifice is good enough to please God. This means cutting oneself, throwing our children in the sacred river, giving a million dollars to
In the end of it all, the stain remains and death still terrifies the soul!
Here’s what’s amazing—our conscience is not defiled by external things like touching a corpse or eating a piece of pork! The conscience is defiled from within! Jesus said it is what comes out of a person that defiles, not what goes in (Mark 7:15-23). We are defiled by pride and self-pity, bitterness and lust, envy and jealousy, covetousness, apathy and fear—and the actions they breed. All these actions come from death and lead to death, not new life. The end result is hopelessness in our consciences.
You know the next part, but hopefully it will mean more today than yesterday. The blood of Christ is the only answer to a dirty conscience. When our conscience pings us, irritates us, or condemns us we must ask why. If we have confessed our sins and made amends (making amends is extremely important and reflects a repentant heart) we turn to Christ and His suffering and death—the blood of Christ. This is the only cleansing agent in the universe that can give the conscience relief in life and peace in death.
Think about a time when you had little peace. A time when you were so restless and anxious you felt like exploding or acting out in terrible ways. What if God did not offer an answer to the dilemma of conscience? What if He left us in this state? This is why Paul said;
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.—1 Cor
For those not in Christ, they are left in this state and the ways to numb the conscience are endless, the ways to cover shame endless, and the ways to hide endless. God did give us an answer and it is our choice to obey and come to Christ. To believe (heart, mind & soul) that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead giving us hope to be with Him in heaven. Jesus conquered death and gives new life.
Come to Christ today. Give yourself to Him. Confess any known sin. Make amends where necessary and have your conscience cleansed to restore your joy. Sin has broken our relationship with God, our neighbor, and ourselves. Christ’s sacrifice brings us back to God, to our neighbor, and to ourselves. This is why the gospel is good news!
Tomorrow: Jesus Took Away Our Condemnation
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