The Foundation for a Clear Conscience

 The foundation for a clear conscience is repentance from dead works. The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith in Christ’s atonement is the solution for a guilty conscience. Dead works will never satisfy because they don’t address the underlying cause of guilt, which is unrighteousness. The tabernacle reminded the old testament saints of their sinfulness and need for a Savior. The writer of Hebrews makes this very clear.

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 10:1-4).

Since the Law could not do what was needed, i.e. cleanse our conscience of sin and guilt, Christ came that we might have His righteousness imputed to us through faith hence removing our guilt.

. . . when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

(Hebrews 9:11-14)

The answer to that question is it will cleanse our consciences perfectly, if we don’t run back to our dead works. We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10b).

So, what causes believers to seek after good works for righteousness if not pride? The flesh remains and seeks to maintain that self-righteous attitude. This is not only dangerous, it is insulting to God. 

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits (Hebrews 6:1-3).

If you want to have peace, you must trust in Christ’s atonement alone. As Isaiah writes, For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment . . . (Isaiah 64:6).