Conscience as the replacement of law

What think ye?

There's 30 reference verses to 'conscience' in the NT. My point is that... I don't think God removed the law, more that He replaced the tutuorship of the law with the rule of the conscience.


John 8:9
Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
John 8:8-10 (in Context)


Acts 23:1
Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
Acts 23:1-3 (in Context)


Acts 24:16
This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
Acts 24:15-17 (in Context)


Romans 2:15
who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
Romans 2:14-16 (in Context)


Romans 9:1
[ Israel’s Rejection of Christ ] I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
Romans 9:1-3 (in Context)


Romans 13:5
Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
Romans 13:4-6 (in Context)


1 Corinthians 8:1
[ Be Sensitive to Conscience ] Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (in Context)


1 Corinthians 8:7
However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
1 Corinthians 8:6-8 (in Context)


1 Corinthians 8:10
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
1 Corinthians 8:9-11 (in Context)


1 Corinthians 8:12
But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
1 Corinthians 8:11-13 (in Context)


1 Corinthians 10:25
Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;
1 Corinthians 10:24-26 (in Context)


1 Corinthians 10:27
If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.
1 Corinthians 10:26-28 (in Context)


1 Corinthians 10:28
But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.”
1 Corinthians 10:27-29 (in Context)


1 Corinthians 10:29
“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?
1 Corinthians 10:28-30 (in Context)


2 Corinthians 1:12
[ Paul’s Sincerity ] For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
2 Corinthians 1:11-13 (in Context)


2 Corinthians 4:2
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 4:1-3 (in Context)


2 Corinthians 5:11
Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
2 Corinthians 5:10-12 (in Context)


1 Timothy 1:5
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
1 Timothy 1:4-6 (in Context)


1 Timothy 1:19
having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
1 Timothy 1:18-20 (in Context)


1 Timothy 3:9
holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
1 Timothy 3:8-10 (in Context)


1 Timothy 4:2
speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
1 Timothy 4:1-3 (in Context)


2 Timothy 1:3
[ Timothy’s Faith and Heritage ] I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
2 Timothy 1:2-4 (in Context)


Titus 1:15
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
Titus 1:14-16 (in Context)


Hebrews 9:9
It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—
Hebrews 9:8-10 (in Context)


Hebrews 9:14
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:13-15 (in Context)


Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:21-23 (in Context)


Hebrews 13:18
[ Prayer Requested ] Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.
Hebrews 13:17-19 (in Context)


1 Peter 2:19
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
1 Peter 2:18-20 (in Context)


1 Peter 3:16
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
1 Peter 3:15-17 (in Context)


1 Peter 3:21
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
1 Peter 3:20-22 (in Context)

It's also based on the concept that merits are full at the time of down payment of the Holy Spirit. Any reward system is not acheivements, it's de-merits of not accepting the pardon by not bringing it to the throne of grace to recieve forgiveness. The exonerated prisoner not accepting the pardon, thereby remaining in prison, when all he had to do was sign the papers. In the same way our conscience must be witness to the forgiveness to recieve the effect of the blood of Jesus clearing our conscience from the effects of sin.

The law of the Spirit is in effect in the conscience. While it can be seared bu continually ignoring the pull, the instant access to the throne it provides is available to all.

Faith tells us that God exists and is a rewarder. The rewards are for those who bring thoughts captive and the experience is peace of mind. No higher commodity.

bling said:

Salvation by grace replaced the Law. People always had a conscience. Our Loving actions replaced the actions of doing the Law in that we now do things because of what has been done for us and not to try and get something.

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The conscience was alive but it was according to the law of good and evil. The law of the spirit says that even our good isn't good enough if it's not under the control of the Holy Spirit. Our best talents may seem good, but it begets pride instead of humilty that is the product of self-control according to the Spirit. Even our good must be relinquished. God strips us before He builds.

lighthouse_hope said:

Er... I think I'm with Bling on this one. Maid, you could have a point, but you need to develop it a bit more.

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Did the above post explain or ?

Here's a link to my thread at the post on conscience

http://www.christianforums.com/t7449444/#post54318568

Tzaousios said:

I think this is the reason why it does not replace the Law. The Law is still there to teach and remind about sin. Unless one wants to argue for sinless perfectionism on earth, the will of the Christian still struggles with the effects of sin. The Christian's will is no longer imprisoned, but has a choice in what it desires.

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I would venture to say that it's God provision that His Spirit uses to bring us out of the law. Before the law couldn't bring glory to Him, but with the conscience co-operating with Him, it witnesses the forgiveness at the throne of grace. The confidence from the cleansing of forgiveness is our strength. The throne of grace is where the forgiveness of others is released. It's the place of transactions.

Frogster said:

The conscience is way to fragile..Paul said his was in witness with the Holy Spirit.

We have received the Spirit,as per gal 4,and rom 8.

It says we have the Spirt is a down payment.

That is pure,and not a fragile relative thing,that can have cultural and religious sway.

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Hense the need to separate gospel from tradition. Shadows and patterns to substance. Reading the bible is effective in discerning culture from politics and religion. Rev 2-3 is about just that.


Anything with lines drawn to man instead of the Father is false religion. Jesus' lines were always straight.