From Conscience
From Conscience
I wonder if it's possible that man originally had no conscience. Then, when Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, a conscience was installed in their personalities. Do you think this could be true?
All human beings have a conscience until they are disobedient to the point that they receive a mind void of judgment, a seared conscience. Even little children have a conscience, it may be noted.
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another; (Romans 2:14,15)
Do by nature the things contained in the Law. The conscience of all people reflects the eternal moral law of God. The Ten Commandments are an abridged form of the eternal moral law.
The Ten Commandments, the covenant God made with the people of Israel, inform us of the difference between right and wrong. So does our conscience. The Law of Moses reinforces our conscience.
The problem with the Law of Moses is that it tells us clearly and triumphantly what our conscience may remind us of in gentle tones, but it does not provide the power to remove the forces of disobedience from us. We may run over the quiet reminders of conscience (although sometimes they shout at us or terrorize us). But the iron directives of the "you shalls" permit no compromise.
The Law of Moses is holy and good, but a new covenant is required if we are to please God by our behavior.
"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah." (Jeremiah 31:31—NIV)
By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. (Hebrews 8:13–NIV)
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:26,27–NIV)
"I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees." Here is the perfect "Law of Liberty" of which James speaks, the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.
The new covenant does have that power. As we follow the Spirit of God, while pursuing the path of righteousness, we learn to embrace righteousness and renounce wickedness. Such is a most significant part of our growth in Christ. It is the mark of spiritual maturity.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)