Confession & Declaration 15
Hebrews 9:14 How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?
Conscience is defined as an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior. The Greek goes a little deeper in its definition describing it as the the soul that distinguishes between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other. Conscience in the Greek is defined as a consciousness of right and wrong. Before a person is born-again of the Spirit the conscience could be defined as the battle between two egos in opposition to one another. One ego values goodness, truth, beauty, etc. and is affirmed and is to be affirmed. It contains within itself the “I should do this or that.” The opposing ego destroys the good order by falsehood, evil, and disorder. Ultimately both stem from the soul – mind, will, emotions and personality – and are powerless to rid you of the growing weight of guilt and wrongdoing. A conscience has the power to carry you only as far as the will is able to stay strong. Once the will has been weakened the body of our sin nature collapses under the force and weight of the temptations.
Through the Blood of Jesus this load of guilt, shame and condemnation is washed away. Jesus lifts it from us and continues to do so. As often as we ask He cleanses our conscience from the dead works of attempting to make ourself right before Him. He washes us from the need to obtain His approval through our performance, dead works, and religious legalism. He frees us to obtain the righteousness of Christ through simple faith, child-like obedience, fueled by His Spirit and Grace.
His Blood frees me from the lies of the enemy that I must meet certain standards, or have the approval of certain others in order to feel good about myself. Now that my conscience is clean I no longer have to fear punishment nor punish others. I am now free from blaming others and myself for personal failures. The drive to succeed to avoid punishment has now been replaced by gratitude. My drive to obey is empowered now by a desire to say, Thank You, through my actions. This freedom of a cleansed conscience has released me from the bondage of withdrawing from God and others. My conscience freed can now serve the Living God not religious externalism or legalism.
David, the Psalmist, sums up our position before the Father when he writes: Lord, how they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.2 Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. (Psalm 3:1-3 AMPC)
With the weight of shame, guilt and condemnation gone I can now experience the Lord lifting my head. I am in the Eternal Now. I am washed in the Blood of Jesus – made perfectly clean in His Presence.
Declaration 14: Lord many memories, have I, of my guilt, and shame. Many witnesses have seen and heard of my wickedness. Yet, my Lord and my Savior, though they increase to trouble, and rise up against me; though they proudfully assert, There is no help for him in God. I can rise up through Your Blood. I can stand. For You are my Shield, my Glory and the One who lifts my head. You have cleansed, are cleansing, and will cleanse my conscience from the weight, and stain of sin. You have washed me, lifted my head, and ushered me into Your Presence. You have freed me from the lies that I must meet certain standards, or have the approval of certain others in order to feel good about myself. Through Your cleansing Blood I no longer have to fear punishment nor punish others – because my conscience has been cleansed. You have freed me from blaming others and myself for my personal failures. Through Your Blood I can even accept the choices I made which led to their consequences. The drive to succeed to avoid punishment has now been replaced by gratitude.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Jesus! Let all heaven and earth join in the Praise. Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain before the foundations of the world! Worthy is my God and King to receive all Glory, Honor, Power, and Riches! Praise Him sun, moon, stars and planets! Praise Him all you His angels. Let everything that has breath praise the Living God and Supreme Master of all things.
Freedom has cleansed my conscience releasing me from the bondage of withdrawing from God and others. Freedom has a Name and His Name is Jesus! Praise You Jesus, I have been freed from religious externalism, legalism, and the approval of man. I have all the approval I need through You and by Your Precious Blood. I weep before Your Feet in joy and gratitude at the excellence of Your Sacrifice. I had no idea what a wondrous treasure it is. Now, by Your Grace, I can see and receive the Good News of Your Gospel! Hallelujah!
