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NASB | Romans 2:15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 2:15 They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts; and their conscience [their sense of right and wrong, their moral choices] bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or perhaps defending them |
Subject: Where did our conscience come from? |
Bible Note: Dear brothers (Rebar, Jeff and Doc), Pardon me for consolidating my response to you all in one post as I think it will be more efficient, and excuse my slowness as well. Hope you understand (from my background) that I need time to digest all the materials with my limitation. And I hope that I am able to express my thoughts clear enough though my words would sound a bit clumsy. My first 2 questions were made under the general (or my) understanding of conscience as the knowledge of good AND evil or right and wrong (brother Nolan has posted some definitions on 30 Jun 2001, you can check for details) which I hardly agree with it as an attribute created in mankind in the creation from the scriptures I cited earlier. However, after further study on the scriptures, I tend to consider that conscience (knowledge of good ONLY) was created in us at the time of creation. For everything created was good. (AMP Gen 1:31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely.) Adam and Eve knew the good only since the world was good in their eyes. They knew not the evil (befall their fall) because there was no evil at all (unless there is proof in the Bible that evil existed in Eden before Adam and Eve were created). Since there was no evil, was it necessary for them to distinguish between good and evil? Note that Eve was not able to make comments on the serpent before she ate the forbidden fruit, but what did she say after the temptation when God asked her? “…the woman said, ‘The serpent beguiled (cheated, outwitted, and deceived) me, and I ate’ (AMP Gen 3:13)”. Now she was able to comment. If they possessed the knowledge of good and evil already, Eve should have had given her alertness against the serpent or what the serpent said. But she did not. She was just repeating God’s command (just like a small kid repeating what her mom said). The change of their conscience was also verified in Gen 3:22 “….. BEHOLD, the man HAS BECOME like one of Us … to know [how to distinguish between] good and evil and blessing and calamity…” My view on God’s command that they eat not the knowledge fruit pertains to the issue of free will (our freedom to choose) and our obedience to God. However, does it mean that we only have the choices between good and evil? We do can choose between different things that have nothing to do with good or evil. God first convicted Adam’s disobedience then his eating of the fruit (Gen 3:17). What God asked of them was their obedience. Eve was so easily lusted by the desire to get the good things : wisdom and the beautiful fruit – pleasing to the eye (Now I understand why women care so much on things that are pleasing to the eyes such as fashion, jewels, beauty, etc… We inherited such nature from Eve! Ha! Ha!). She decided to choose her own way and so did Adam. Of course, we know one of the consequences was our conscience perverted. By Jesus’ blood, we are able to stand before God just like Adam prior to his fall. Through the guide of the Holy Spirit, we can restore our original conscience which we should focus and know only the law (Mark 12:19) – the greatest commandment. These are the dos not the don’ts. Therefore, we – the believers – have no excuse for we know the law (as directed by the Holy Spirit). For the unbelieve, they can only rely on their perverted conscience which is not reliable and is subject to God’s final judgement. See how Jesus said about the Kingdom of God (Luke 18:15) when he saw the little children and babies. Do the little children and babies know about evil? Or are they able to distinguish between the two? Jesus also chose the figurative use of sheep in his parable to explain his relationship with us. We (the sheep – a dumb animal, easily be led astray) just need to know His voice and follow. All in all, we just need to be faithful and obedient. Might there be anything I have misinterpreted, I would be glad to receive your biblical guidance. Hope I have made my points clear. Shalom :-) Azure |