Keep A Blameless Conscience
The apostle Paul finds himself before a Roman official defending himself against accusations that he has committed some crime against the Jews or the Romans. In this instance he is before Felix, governor of Judea from A.D. 52 to 59.
“But this I admit to you [Felix], that according to the Way which they [Jews] call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God ... that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men” (Acts 24:14-16).
Paul has the courage to stand firm in his faith in the midst of religious and political antagonists. His defense gives us an outline for every believer: We serve the biblical God; We believe the biblical content; We hope in God for a resurrection.
Many of you may affirm the steps in Paul’s defense, but do you strive to “maintain a blameless conscience before God and men”? If you truly are a biblical Christian, then work at being blameless before God and men through diligent study of the Word and following its teachings.
As James instructs, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25).
- Jim Weikal
