The Good Conscience

Aim: To always enjoy a good conscience in Christ alone.

Doctrine: The good conscience of true Christians is entirely centered on Jesus. Paul had a clean conscience in the present because he could (now) believe that God had His sovereign hand in his past.

Exegesis: How the good conscience in Christ works (on a practical level): first, it may be asserted (by God's sheer grace) (22:30-23:1); then, it will be assaulted (by those who lack it) (23:2-3); finally, it gets assimilated (into an effective witness) (23:4-5).

Further application: Why the good conscience should always be maintained by redeemed churchmen: because it is our unique treasure (as children of God), and we should use it to glorify our Savior.

Key verse: 23:1 ''And looking intently at the council, Paul said, 'Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.' ''