Lance wrote: > THE CONSCIENCE OF HK (yes, it's meant to > be Humankind) DOES NOT POSSESS VERIDICAL > ACCESS. ... I'd thought you not the sort > who "proof-texted".
It was not a "proof-text." I simply asked you what you thought of John 8:7-9 which seems to indicate that unregenerated men were convicted by their own conscience. If you don't have an answer, that is no reason to accuse me of proof-texting. My perspective of the conscience is this. The conscience is the candle of the Lord within every man. John 1:9 speaks of Christ being the logos which lights EVERY man that comes into the world. How can this be? Have all heard of Christ? No. The light which all men born into the world touch, is indeed Christ, as manifested within the conscience of men. John mentions the conscience of men who did not believe upon Christ. 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. (John 8:9 KJV) Paul refers to preaching appealing to the conscience of men, and in my preaching activities, I find this to be true, that what I declare to the unregenerate, they know deep inside to be true. The only ones who might be an exception to this are those who are truly reprobate and given over to all manner of lust and sin. Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 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. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2 KJV) Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (2 Corinthians 5:11 KJV) Paul speaks of having a good conscience, which indicates that the conscience is a standard within man, that either agrees with or disagrees with the truth. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. (1 Timothy 1:5 KJV) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck. (1 Timothy 1:19 KJV) Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (1 Timothy 3:9 KJV) (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 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;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:13-16 KJV) Paul speaks of the conscience being defiled by culture and sin. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. (1 Timothy 4:2 KJV) 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. (Titus 1:15 KJV) If we find passages which speak about the conscience being pure and good for the righteous, and other passages which speak of the conscience being seared and defiled by the unrighteous, then it follows that the conscience is a pathway to the absolute truth of God. The conscience is a candle of the Lord, which might become bright and strong by faith and righteousness, or might become weak, darkened, and dim by unbelief and unrighteousness. In other words, the testimony of conscience is not determined by culture, but rather it is a standard within us that is affected by how we live, which might be determined by culture. So I am not arguing against any notion you have about how culture might affect conscience, but only showing forth the truth that all men have a conscience that operates independent of culture. Whether you are a Jew, a Muslim, or a Christian, living today or 1500 years ago, the conscience operates the same. Another thing to consider here is that all good ultimately comes from God. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:16-17 KJV) If we come to understand that all that is good originates with God, then we should not think that all of mankind is without any spark of God whatsoever. Even the wicked do good things for their children. What is the source of that goodness, if not God? Surely, all of mankind has experienced the spark of the Divine, even before receiving the revelation that Jesus is the Christ. Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
