20160807 Sunday, August 7 2016
2 Corinthians 07: A Clean Conscience

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? ... And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God"

The English-language word "conscience" (not to be confused with "conscious," which simply means to be aware i.e. to be awake) may be defined as "the ability to differentiate right from wrong."

It is vital however, in the Christian sense, to differentiate genuine right from wrong. Humans have deluded themselves with and into all sorts of false "right" and false "rights" - all of which lead to self destruction (see Iniquity In History And Prophecy and They Aren't Rights If The LORD Says They're Wrongs).

"14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12 KJV)

Repentance does not erase the memory of wrongdoing, but it does convert a "guilty conscience" into a clean conscience. Beginning with himself (Paul was no self-righteous hypocrite), Paul reminded the true Christians of their behavior before their conversion, but with the acceptance of the Messiah's Sacrifice by obeying what He commanded to do, they became washed.

"22:20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him." (Acts 22:20 KJV)

"15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:9-10 KJV)

"6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV)

So it was that Paul taught in the "real world" - never forgetting the reason that repentance is necessary for everyone (see the Fact Finder question below).

"7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

7:2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 7:3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7:7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 7:12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

7:13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 7:14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 7:15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 7:16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things." (2 Corinthians 7:1-16 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is the Way to true repentance?
See Strait And Straight and Who Can Be Saved?