Without a doubt, experience is the best teacher…But no where is it written that it must be your experience. The Bible after all is an experiential-record of other people’s mistakes presented in such a manner that we might not repeat them. Like the good parent who desires to spare a child the horror of their own bad experiences, here we see Peter acting similarly in his counsel to the church.
Do you recall Peter having three occasions to offer a good defense, but because of a bad conscience, wasting those opportunities?
Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Matthew 26:74-75
Defiled Conscience
Titus 1:15 tells of the conscience defiled. That occurs when we habitually allow impure things to enter in. Over time, like soot building on a window, clear vision is impaired. A defiled conscience is likened to cataracts on the lens of your soul. Gone untreated, a defiled conscience leads to a…
Seared Conscience
Look at what 1 Timothy 4:1-2 declares in regard to the seared conscience.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron
Whether or not Peter had reached this stage is open to speculation, but we certainly see this quality displayed today in the voice of many a false teacher. Un-repented sin leads to defilement and prolonged corruption leads to a seared conscience; with that seared conscience being unable to distinguish between light and dark, right and wrong, or good and evil.
Evil Conscience
Can it get any worse than having a seared conscience? It most certainly can. Defilement leads to searing which leads to evil—and the truth be told, that is where the majority of us began our spiritual journeys; in the pit of an evil conscience. It was there that our Lord found us and placed within us the desire spoken of in 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.
Cleansed Conscience
Anybody ever told you as a Christian that you are brain-washed? Peter harkens that we are desperately in need of brain-washing, so much so that regular cleansing should be a daily (if not more frequent) ritual. Then and only then will we be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks the reason for the hope we possess.
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