By Stewart Topping
2 Co 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.
When we examine this portion of scripture we come away understanding what Paul was saying that the testimony of his/our Conscience is Godly not fleshy and by the Grace of God. We see that we can be guided by our new purged conscience.
Eph 2:8-10 for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
From the beginning God had planned for us to walk in faith. After the creation of man and fall. God set in motion the Covenants. The first was the Covenant with Abraham, which was to demonstrate the weakness in the ability of the flesh to make right decisions.
Gen 17:13 he that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, needs to be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
The first Covenant was a way to teach man he could not do it on his own.
Gal 3:24 wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The second Covenant was a better Covenant since it includes the Spirit of God, The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
Heb 8:13 In that he said, a new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayed and waxed old is ready to vanish away.
Jesus has shed His blood to set us free and has purged our conscience, which gives us the ability to make right choices.
Heb 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?
You can have confidence that if you are Born Again from above and have the Holy Spirit indwelling you, then you can trust your conscience to be your Guide. It is God’s Quality of Life in you.
We need to learn how to react to God’s Holy Spirit in us by using our purged conscience