Good Monday morning, and thank you for listening today.

We begin the week with a really sharp and robust question from a listener named Arnaldo.

Here it is.

Hello, Tony and Pastor John.

Thank you for your labors and this podcast.

My question is one that I've struggled with for over two decades now.

It's this.

How can I live with a good conscience?

The Apostle Paul often talks about the conscience and how specifically a good conscience is something

he always lived with, apparently even before he became a Christian.

Acts chapter 23 verse 1 and Acts 24 verse 16.

We also see that a good conscience is a qualification for Christian leaders in 1 Timothy 3

9.

And having a good conscience is an important goal of the Christian life for all believers,

according to 1 Timothy 1 verse 5 and verse 19.

When I read the way Paul uses the word conscience in these contexts, it seems like he's saying

it means to be presently walking in obedience to everything God has revealed to him.

He does not seem to mean that he's trusting in Christ's blood to cover over his indwelling

sin.

I believe in both the doctrine of indwelling sin and of progressive sanctification, according

to texts like Proverbs 418 and Romans 7 verses 21 to 23.

God is always revealing to me new areas and sometimes old areas where I need to grow

...