Romans 2:15-16: They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”
The definition of the word conscience is: An inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior. It gives a sense of obligation to do right or be good. It has to do with the mind and one’s morals. Our conscience makes us feel bad when we have spoken words we wish we could take back. However, Paul is telling the Romans that conscience is not always in line with God’s moral law.
The conscience is believed to be located in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. It is the part of our brain that helps us make decisions. It records what we learn is right and wrong. But the problem is our conscience learns by experience, our biology, and our background.
Our conscience is composed of our upbringing and is reported to be set by the time a child is six years of age. Our conscience can accuse or excuse as Romans 2:15 states. The rules we had growing up mainly formed our conscience about right and wrong. But it is also developed by the Holy Spirit convicting our heart and mind while reading God’s Word. However, our conscience and the Holy Spirit are not the same
“Every person, whether believer or nonbeliever, has a conscience that is part of the soul. The conscience is not the voice of God. When you think the Holy Spirit is leading you, look for the witness of the Holy
Spirit, the illumination of the Scripture, and the confirmation of God’s hand in the circumstances.” Priscilla
So, how do you recognize God’s voice in your own life leading and guiding you to be aligned with His will? Dr. Blackberry, who wrote the book, Experiencing God, was asked this question and his response was: “It’s really very simple. I always read the Word of God. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to bring me the mind and heart of God. When the Holy Spirit speaks through the Word of God, I always know that I have the will of God and can proceed.”
Kay Arthur also has stated: “I know the Lord is speaking to me when it is confirmed by Scripture. God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness in His Word (2 Pet. 1:3). He never contradicts Himself and never acts contrary to His character.”
What forms your boundaries in life?
What verses in Scripture has God used to personalize the decisions you have needed to make in your life?
I need to ask myself daily how does God’s truth found in scripture show in my thoughts, actions, and speech? What changes do I need to make? I also have no excuse. I need to echo God’s
God will one day bring every deed into judgment whether it is good or evil (Ecc. 12:14). That day no one will escape or have an excuse. Acts 10:42b declares: “He is the one (Jesus Christ) whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins saves us from the penalty and power of sin. God judges according to the truth (Rom. 2:2), and according to man’s works or deeds (Rom. 2:6), but he also judges “the secrets of men” (Rom. 2:16). God sees what is in the heart and judges righteously. May our conscience be aligned deep within us that echoes God’s yes and no, in the boundaries we set, as we live in pursuing obedience, spiritually aligned to our Savior, before our world today.
Listen to Casting Crowns YouTube video, Voice of Truth. May these words in song give you courage today as you listen and believe God’s voice of truth found in His Word.