OUTLINE:
Conscience
“conscience” = con + science = with + knowledge; means to know oneself; a person’s good conscience is based on data; it is not the source of data; rather, it is especially equipped to judge right from wrong.
“it is not even able to do so”
The human flesh is totally depraved, incapable of performing any good deed in God’s eyes. Only divine intervention, by grace, is able to save/deliver man from his destitution.
“it is not even able to do so”
Furthermore, man is totally blind left to his own devices, his conscience judging good and bad from a poor data set. This is why carnal man argues so vehemently against truth (from his perspective, he is functioning in integrity).
“it is not even able to do so”
The human flesh is totally depraved, incapable of performing any good deed in God’s eyes. Only divine intervention, by grace, is able to save/deliver man from his destitution.
“it is not even able to do so”
Furthermore, man is totally blind left to his own devices, his conscience judging good and bad from a poor data set. This is why carnal man argues so vehemently against truth (from his perspective, he is functioning in integrity).
The Deceitfulness of Sin
Sin’s end game is to thwart the will of God. The most effective way to do this is to insert false data into the soul, thus confounding the conscience.
“the sorrow of the world”
This refers to the sentiments and judgments the world clings to regarding a convicting conscience. The “sorrow” here is diametrically different than godly sorrow because it is induced by bad data (eg. sinful doctrines (and the flesh) are being offended).
Jn 3:20 [Amplified]
For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned.
The Persistence of Sin
(ala Gen 39:7-12)
We have an illustration of how SIN DOESN’T JUST LEAVE US ALONE AND LET US BE. IT PURSUES US! Don’t be deceived and think it’s NOT going to pursue you, even after you’ve had a victory over it. In other words, “don’t turn your back”.