How Can I Develop a Christian Conscience?
Overview
In Walt Disney’s classic animated movie Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket sings, “Always let your conscience be your guide.” The Bible confirms that the human conscience is real and important, but it also shows that the conscience is not always a reliable guide to making moral choices, for it is twisted by sin. Therefore, a Christian conscience must be nurtured and developed. In this booklet, R. C. Sproul shows that this development involves learning and mastering the many principles God has laid down in his Word, and even in creation itself. In other words, we must know and understand God’s law. As we gain a firmer grasp of what God expects and requires, we are increasingly able to make decisions that please him.
Top Highlights
“We must return to the first principle. For the Christian, the conscience is not the ultimate authority in life. We are called to have the mind of Christ, to know the good, and to have our minds and hearts trained by God’s truth so that when the moment of pressure comes, we will be able to stand with integrity.” (Page 9)
“It involves the idea of accusing as well as the idea of excusing. When we sin, the conscience is troubled. It accuses us. The conscience is the tool that God the Holy Spirit uses to convict us, bring us to repentance, and to receive the healing of forgiveness that flows from the gospel.” (Page 5)
“But the power of sin can erode the conscience to the point where it becomes a faint voice in the deepest recesses of your soul. By this, our consciences become hardened and callous, condemning what is right and excusing what is wrong.” (Page 6)
“For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin’ (Rom. 14:23)” (Page 8)
“If we do something that we think is sin, even if we are misinformed, we are guilty of sin. We are guilty of doing something we believe to be wrong.” (Page 8)
- Title: How Can I Develop a Christian Conscience?
- Author: R. C. Sproul
- Edition: First edition
- Series: The Crucial Questions Series
- Publisher: Reformation Trust
- Print Publication Date: 2013
- Logos Release Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Conscience › Religious aspects--Christianity; Christian ethics
- ISBNs: 9781567693270, 156769327X
- Resource ID: LLS:HWCNCHRSTCNSCNC
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:40:30Z
R. C. Sproul (1939– 2017) was a respected teacher, theologian, pastor. He was the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries where he served as executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Sproul held degrees from Westminster College, Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary, Free University of Amsterdam, and Whitefield Theological Seminary. He taught at several colleges and seminaries including Reformed Theological Seminary and Knox Theological Seminary. He served as senior minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, in Sanford, Florida. Sproul’s teaching can be heard daily on the ‘Renewing Your Mind’ radio broadcast which plays in over 40 countries.
Sproul wrote over 70 books and articles including the classic The Holiness of God and several theological articles in Tabletalk magazine.