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Conscience

What shows that Jehovah has given all humans a conscience?

Ro 2:14, 15

See also 2Co 4:2

What can happen to the conscience when a person persists in wrongdoing?

1Ti 4:2; Tit 1:15

See also Heb 10:22

Is it enough just to believe that what we are doing is right?

Joh 16:2, 3; Ro 10:2, 3

Relevant Bible account(s):
- 2Ch 18:1-3; 19:1, 2—King Jehoshaphat unwisely lends help to wicked King Ahab and is rebuked by Jehovah
- Ac 22:19, 20; 26:9-11—The apostle Paul recounts how he once thought that it was right to persecute and kill Christ’s followers

How can the conscience be properly trained?

2Ti 3:16, 17; Heb 5:14

Relevant Bible account(s):
- 1Sa 24:2-7—King David’s conscience moves him to treat Jehovah’s anointed one King Saul properly

How can sinful humans have a clean conscience before God?

Eph 1:7; Heb 9:14; 1Pe 3:21; 1Jo 1:7, 9; 2:1, 2

See also Re 1:5

Relevant Bible account(s):
- Isa 6:1-8—Jehovah assures the prophet Isaiah that his sins can be forgiven
- Re 7:9-14—Those of the great crowd have a clean standing before Jehovah on account of the cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice

Why should we not ignore the guidance of a conscience that is trained according to God’s Word?

Ac 24:15, 16; 1Ti 1:5, 6, 19; 1Pe 3:16

See also Ro 13:5

Relevant Bible account(s):
- Ge 2:25; 3:6-13—Adam and Eve ignore their conscience and later feel shame for disobeying God
- Ne 5:1-13—Governor Nehemiah appeals to the conscience of his fellow Jews, who are ignoring God’s laws and charging high interest rates

Why should we be careful not to stumble a brother or a sister whose conscience is not yet well-trained?

1Co 8:7, 10-13; 10:28, 29

What goal should we have regarding our conscience?

2Co 1:12; 2Ti 1:3; Heb 13:18

See also Ac 23:1; Ro 9:1; 1Ti 3:8, 9