Spiritual Warfare – Don't Fall into the Trap of Conscience

The first section identifies the main problem: many believers confuse genuine spirituality with conscience, leading them to live according to the voice of their old sinful conscience rather than Scripture. The devil encourages this by having believers observe outward religious rituals such as church attendance, giving, and worship while their hearts remain unchanged. The sermon aims to explain this dangerous scheme of the devil and guide believers about the difference between conscience and God's law.

The second section develops the argument that conscience cannot be a fixed ethical standard. The sermon presents three illustrations: the story of Di Tu Ha stealing the king's chariot to visit his sick mother, which the king of Wei first praised but later condemned as contempt for royal authority; the story of Joseph's brothers throwing him into a pit, whose consciences only awakened after twenty years; and the slavery issue in the United States where millions of people heard two completely opposing voices of conscience about the same matter. These examples prove that conscience changes according to individuals, circumstances, society, and time.

The third section compares conscience and God's law. God's law is inscribed in the hearts of all people, and conscience is a living witness to that law. Conscience is compared to a skylight on a roof allowing sunlight to shine in, while God's law is the light or lamp that illuminates the path. When conscience is closed off or corrupted, the light of God's law cannot shine into a person's spirit. The awareness of morality from God's law written in each person's heart is evidence of God's existence.

The fourth section analyzes the limitations and changes of conscience through two cases: Raskolnikov in the novel Crime and Punishment is tormented by conscience and confesses his crime, and Samuel Johnson still carries guilt about failing to help his father sell vegetables. However, the consciences of many murderers remain completely silent. Conscience can become weak, corrupt, or seared like an alarm system that has been turned off. A person with a seared conscience speaks of righteousness but acts in complete opposition and does not hear the voice of conscience warning them.

The final section calls believers to come to Jesus Christ to have their consciences cleansed. The blood of Jesus Christ has the power to cleanse our consciences from dead works. Those who believe in Christ are forgiven and acquitted not only before the court of conscience but more importantly before God. Those who are in Christ Jesus are no longer condemned. The true standard for believers must be Scripture's teaching, not conscience.