Conscience
How would we know if it was?
The Bible's New Testament speaks about the conscience of men using the term conscience we are familiar with but in the Old Testament the idea of conscience is associated with the heart and mind. The cognitive processes of our mind creates what we may call our conscience but the human conscience alone may often be contrasting even contradicting the conscience of God that comes through the Holy Spirit. Our heart and minds may produce outcomes because of the influences of the world, the flesh and the wicked which we tolerate or deny because we lack true morals and virtues which come through true faith. Pride and vanity often produce a cognitive dissonance and a seared conscience.[1]
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Coming to terms
The word "conscience" in the English language is said to mean "a cognitive process that elicits emotion and rational associations based on an individual's moral philosophy or value system."
The morals of an individual is "concerned with the judgment of right or wrong of human action and character."
The cognitive process of conscience may be produced by more than one source. There may be at least two ways to determine what is right and wrong or what is good and evil from an original biblical point of view. The first way was to depend on what was metaphorically called the tree of life. There was also a tree of knowledge of good and evil.
We see two trees[2] that were placed in the midst of a place called a garden. Trees were sources in the Hebrew mind and a garden was a protected place.[3] In the phrase "tree of life" the root word for life or alive is ChetYod but in these verses we see HeyChetYodYodMem.
- ה Hey Expression--Thought, Speech, Action. Manifest seeds of thought and life. [Emphasize, jubilation, window, fence] (Numeric value: 5)
- ח Chet The Life Force - Dynamic nature of - cause and effect - give life and live.[fence, thread, hedge, chamber...cycle] (Numeric value: 8)
- י Yod The Infinite Point of essential good. Divine spark hidden in the ט Tet. Spark of spirit. [closed hand... Deed, work, to make] (Numeric value: 10)
- י Yod The Infinite Point of essential good. Divine spark hidden in the ט Tet. Spark of spirit. [closed hand... Deed, work, to make] (Numeric value: 10)
- מ ם Mem Fountain of water, a flow, a fountain of the Divine Wisdom [massive, overpower chaos] (Numeric value: 40)
Also the word "knowledge" in the "tree of knowledge" would normally be daath DelatAyinTav[4]but in these verses the word contains the extra letters Hey. Even the words for "midst[5] of the garden"[3] have additional letters Beit and Hey respectively.
The tree of life is the source of the spirit of life which shows us good and evil through the spirit that gives life which is the Spirit from above or the Holy Spirit.
On the other hand the tree of knowledge is our own minds which can be a product of our own vanity and lack of virtue.
In defining this modern term of "Conscience" it "stands in contrast to elicited emotion or thought due to associations based on immediate sensory perceptions and reflexive responses, as in sympathetic central nervous system responses."
By these definitions we can see that the tree of life is a source of revelation and a conscience given from above while the tree of knowledge is a conscience born of our own limited nature which may form some form of Ideology.
Conscience in the testaments
The English word "conscience" does not appear in the Old Testament but it is seen 32 times in 29 verses in the New Testament consistently translated conscience from the word suneidesis[6] meaning the consciousness of anything distinguishing between what is morally good and bad.
Old
The word “heart” may refer to the idea of a conscience in several passages. In Samuel we see a reference to David's heart being smote.[7]
The word smote is also translated troubled and is the Hebrew word nakah[8] NunKafHey which is said to appear some 500 times but in at least a hundred different forms. But in this verse it appears as VavYodKaf.
- ו Vav Connection, Connecting realms and worlds or the dividing veil between them. [nail... And, Add, secure, hook] (Numeric value: 6)
- י Yod The Infinite Point of essential good. Divine spark hidden in the ט Tet. Spark of spirit. [closed hand... Deed, work, to make] (Numeric value: 10)
- כ ך Kaf K Crown: To Actualize Potential power from spiritual to physical realm [to cover, strength] (Numeric value: 20)
The Hebrew word for “reins” or “kidneys”[9] were used at times to refer to an individuals conscience. This Hebrew word for “reins” or “kidneys”[9] is essential to understanding the Altars of Clay and stone and the roll of the Levites in the practice of Pure Religion. Understanding these terms and their relation to a free society and the use of your God given conscience is bring in the light of Christ must be pursued with humility, love and forgiveness so that you can find the liberty in which Christ has set you free.
In Psalms[10] we can see God's counsel is his reins or kidneys, meaning his conscience reproved him.
Many other verses use this term which is another way of saying conscience.[11]
The Tithing In Conscience of the Old Testament was not just some "religious" practices to fund the Church in the wilderness it was critical to a free society and nation under God. Freely giving your power of choice over a thing by freewill offerings in a limited way to another you trust altered the seat of power to the people.
The power of choice is the liberty of choice.
New
Even in the new testament this metaphor of "reins and hearts" is seen in Revelation 2:23 "And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works."
The Greek term suneidesis[12] appears twice in two verses:
- 1 Corinthians 8:7 "Howbeit [there is] not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat [it] as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled."
And in,
- 1 Corinthians 10:29 "Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another [man’s] conscience?"
Eating the benefits of the Roman and Greek temples, their free bread was being a partaker of the reward of unrighteousness was idolatry in the heart and mind of early Christians because they could see by the doctrines of Jesus that to take of grants, gifts, and gratuities would be contrary to the liberty of Christ.[13] If they had an appetite for those dainties offered by rulers who might call themselves benefactors would soon become a snare, make them merchandise and curse children.
We see Paul use the term several times in Corinthians as we can see below.
It only appears once in the Gospel describing the men who were trying to hold a woman accountable for her sins while Jesus knew their sins.
- John 8:9 "And they which heard [it], being convicted by [their own] conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, [even] unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst."
We see the term used by Paul in Acts, Romans, Corinthians and Timothy.
- Acts 23:1 "And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
- Acts 24:16 "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and [toward] men."
Romans 2:15 "Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;"
Romans 9:1 "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,"
Romans 13:5 "Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake."
1 Corinthians 8:10 "For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;"
1 Corinthians 8:12 "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ."
1 Corinthians 10:25 "Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, [that] eat, asking no question for conscience sake:"
1 Corinthians 10:27 "If any of them that believe not bid you [to a feast], and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake."
1 Corinthians 10:28 "But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:"
2 Corinthians 1:12 "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward."
2 Corinthians 4:2 "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, 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."
1 Timothy 1:5 "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:"
1 Timothy 1:19 "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck;"
1 Timothy 3:9 "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."
1 Timothy 4:2 "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"
2 Timothy 1:3 "I thank God, whom I serve from [my] forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;"
Titus 1:15 "Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."
Hebrews 9:9 "Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;"
Hebrews 9:14 *How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
Hebrews 10:2 "For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins."
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 13:18 "Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly."
1 Peter 2:19 "For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully."
1 Peter 3:16 "Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
1 Peter 3:21 "The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"
There are many things that should challenge our conscience to test it against the conscience of God but pride ushers in strong delusions bind us in a state of cognitive dissonance. True God given conscience is given from above when the singularity of God writes upon our hearts and minds. We might call that internal inspiration a revelation of the Holy Spirit.
How do we know in is the real Holy Spirit?
Is it in conformity with what has been told from the beginning and are we doing what Christ said to do?
This modern system of government welfare through forced contributions is immersed in a practice directly in conflict against the words of Christ for Christians and makes the word of God to none effect.
The "Leaven" of the Pharisees created a city of blood as they exchanged the righteousness of God for the self-righteousness of their false religion and the reward of unrighteousness.
The modern Christians fails to see the truth of this because their conscience has been seared by the doctrines of men.
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Footnotes
- ↑ 1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
- ↑ Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
- Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 01588 גַּן GimelNun gan [gan] from 01598 defend; n m/n f/n pr loc; [BDB-111a, BDB-171a] [{See TWOT on 367 @@ "367a" }] AV-garden 42; 42
- n m/n f
- 1) garden, enclosure
- 1a) enclosed garden
- 1a1) (fig. of a bride)
- 1b) garden (of plants)
- 1a) enclosed garden
- n pr loc
- 1c) Garden of Eden
- ↑ 01847 ^תעד^ da‘ath \@dah’- ath\@ DaletAyinTav from 03045; n m/f; {See TWOT on 848 @@ "848c"} AV-knowledge 82, know 6, cunning 1, unwittingly 2 + 01097 2, ignorantly + 01097 1, unawares + 01097 1; 93
- 1) knowledge
- 1a) knowledge, perception, skill
- 1b) discernment, understanding, wisdom
- 1) knowledge
- ↑ 08432 תָּוֶךְ tavek [taw’-vek] from an unused root meaning to sever; subst-m; [BDB-1063b] [{See TWOT on 2498 }] AV-midst 209, among 140, within 20, middle 7, in 6, between 3, therein 3, through 2, into 2, misc 23; 415
- 1) midst, middle
- 1a) midst, middle
- 1b) into, through (after verbs of motion)
- 1c) among (of a number of persons)
- 1d) between (of things arranged by twos)
- 1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)
- 1) midst, middle
- ↑ 4893 ~συνείδησις~ suneidesis \@soon-i’-day-sis\@ from a prolonged form of 4894 "to understand with others"; n f AV-conscience 32; 32
- 1) the consciousness of anything
- 2) the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other
- 2a) the conscience
- ↑ 1 Samuel 24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
- 2 Samuel 24:10 And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
- ↑ 05221 ^הכנ^ nakah \@naw-kaw’\@ a primitive root NunKafHey; v; {See TWOT on 1364} AV-smite 348, slay 92, kill 20, beat 9, slaughter 5, stricken 3, given 3, wounded 3, strike 2, stripes 2, misc 13; 500
- 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill
- 1a) (Niphal) to be stricken or smitten
- 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten
- 1c) (Hiphil)
- 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust
- 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast)
- 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage
- 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy
- 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten
- 1d1) to receive a blow
- 1d2) to be wounded
- 1d3) to be beaten
- 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain
- 1d5) to be attacked and captured
- 1d6) to be smitten (with disease)
- 1d7) to be blighted (of plants)
- 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 03629 כִּלְיָה kilyah [kil-yaw’] KafLamedYodHey or (plural) כליות KafLamedYodVavTav from 03627 KafLamedYod AV-vessel, instrument, weapon. (only pl.); which is from 03615 KafLamedHey AV-consume, end, finish. n f p; [BDB-480a] [{See TWOT on 983 @@ "983a" }] AV-kidneys 18, reins 13; 31
- 1) kidneys
- 1a) of physical organ (lit.)
- 1b) of seat of emotion and affection (fig.)
- 1c) of sacrificial animals
- 1) kidneys
- ↑ Psalms 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
- Psalms 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
- Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
- Psalms 73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
- Psalms 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
- ↑ Proverbs 23:16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
- Isaiah 11:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
- Jeremiah 11:20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
- Jeremiah 12:2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou [art] near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
- Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
- Jeremiah 20:12 But, O LORD of hosts, that priest the righteous, [and] seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
- Lamentations 3:13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
- ↑ 4893 ~συνείδησις~ suneidesis \@soon-i’-day-sis\@ from a prolonged form of 4894 "to understand with others"; n f AV-conscience 32; 32
- 1) the consciousness of anything
- 2) the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other
- 2a) the conscience
- ↑ Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
- 1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
- 1 Corinthians 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another [man’s] conscience?
- 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.
- Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
- Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
- Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.