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Memory and Conscience – 2 Tim 1
Memory and Conscience – 2 Tim 1
As we read 2 Timothy, we remember that this is one of the last letters Paul would write. His life has seen some radical changes, especially from a persecutor of God’s people to a proclaimer of the gospel of Jesus. Yet, he writes here: “I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience”. Earlier, Paul could say: "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day" (Acts 23:1-2). Thus we learn that even while persecuting the church, Paul had a ‘good’ conscience! THEN, being converted, he continued to do his “best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men” (Acts 24:16). In his first letter to Timothy, he acknowledged that he “was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor” (1Tim. 1:13). He was forgiven, yet he remembered vividly what he had done against Jesus and the church.
The conscience basically sets in judgment upon our actions, but the standard of judging between right and wrong is learned. Thus, many people have learned a wrong standard and either feel guilty when they are not, or have no guilt feelings when they should! We learn from this the importance of educating our conscience with God’s standard of judgment. After all, we will eventually be judged by God and not by our conscience.
That being said, another question often comes up: If I am forgiven of sin, why does God allow me to REMEMBER that I did it and all that goes with such sinful acts.
1. In order that we can LEARN about life. So many of the ‘reasons’ that encouraged us to sin were in fact LIES. Unfortunately, having believed the lie, we did the act and suffered the consequences. Our memory allows us to avoid the same thing in the future.
2. We remember that WE were deceived and sinned, so we are no different in that respect than the people around us. We ALL have sinned. This should keep us from becoming arrogant and proud against those who are struggling with the same issues.
3. We learn how great the love of God is for us. Yes, we sinned, some dreadfully so. Yet, through Jesus, we can be forgiven. Such were some of you, but you were washed, sanctified, and justified IN CHRIST (cp. 1Cor. 6:9-11).
Yet, such memory has some downsides. For some, the quilt of remembering what they did causes them to doubt that God can/has forgiven them. This can only lead to despair and giving up on seeking God. We can begin thinking, ‘what’s the use’….
Paul set an example of how such memory of past sins should operate. He persecuted the church, rejecting Jesus as the Christ: but was forgiven. To his ending days, he still remembered that he was ‘chief of sinners’ for this! But instead of despair, he also remembered that God had mercy upon him. Such memory of both the sin and the forgiveness spurred him on to gratefully serving.
Part of educating our conscience is learning to trust that in Jesus we have been forgiven. With sorrow and tears we remember what we have been forgiven of, but in hope and trust we faithfully now serve Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. Is your conscience spurring you on to greater love and service?
Hugh DeLong
