“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
(Hebrews 9:14)
Introduction
The conscience is that part of us that feels guilty when we have thought, spoken, or acted wrongly. Surely our God has planned to purify this part of our nature also.
The Awakened Conscience
As the sinner becomes aware that he has offended the Holy God, and repents of his sin, so his conscience is awakened to newness of life too. The Holy Spirit uses this faculty to agree with God's word ... "Which show 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 2:15.) The blood of Jesus Christ silences the fierce voice of guilt and condemnation and sets the sinner free. This is why Paul could say that he had " a conscience void of offence toward God" (Acts 24:16.)
There are those who will never come to (or return to) Christ because they are completely void of a sense of guilt ... “Having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:2.)
Purified from Dead Works
It must be acknowledged that many unregenerate men and women have been very conscientious, but this not the same as having a pure conscience. This kind of conscientiousness is the product of God's grace transforming, enlightening, and renewing the soul.
The apostle Paul writes about a deeper experience than a mere act of the will when he says that the blood of Christ can "purge your conscience from dead works. This even goes beyond being delivered from sin and guilt, for it also frees us from doing things in our own strength.
Conclusion
The conscience is cleansed and purified the moment a person allows the blood of Christ do its work of sanctification. This 'allowing' God to do His work in us does not deny His sovereignty, instead it is an expression of faith and obedience. We wait upon God who waits to work in us.