Does it mean that you are righteous if the consciousness does not rebuke you?

Question:

If I do good to others and they do only evil to me, does this mean that I am bad? If my conscience does not punish me, does this mean that nobody can punish me? What does the Bible say about this way of thinking?

If you do good to others and they do you only evil it does not necessarily mean that you are bad. You can not make such a conclusion only because they hurt you. The Lord Jesus who did not do any sin was treated with malice and cruelty by many people. Here’s what the Bible says about how Jesus suffered from bad people when It encourages us to suffer and when someone hurts us unfairly.

For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this findsfavor with God. (1 Peter 2:19-24)(NASB)

At the same time, Scripture tells us not to suffer because we have done some evil:

Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffersas aChristian, he is not to be ashamed, but is toglorify God in this name. (1 Peter 4:15-16)(NASB)

As for consciousness, it can not punish us, but it can reprove and condemn us, that means it can sentence us when we have done something wrong. It is possible to do bad things and not be rebuked by our conscience, because we do not know that those things are bad and that they bring pain and suffering to people and anger God.

A young woman from “Bunavestirea” Church, which I pastor told me how she had confessed the Lord Jesus Christ to her colleagues and while talking about virginity, one of her colleagues had come and asked her if it was true that one had to save herself virgin until marriage.  When she had received an affirmative answer, she had gone away sad. So, consciousness began to rebuke her for the sins she had committed and that only after learning the truth of Scripture. God help her to repent and to enter the New Covenant with Jesus Christ.

Being blamed without reason by the Christians from Corinth, the Apostle Paul wrote to them:

But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any humancourt; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For Iam conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by thisacquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. (1 Corinthians 4:3-4)(NASB)

The apostle says that for him the unjust judgment of Corinthians is a very small thing and not even a human court could judge him as long as he knows he is not guilty. At the same time, however, he says he wants to be found right before God and therefore he examines all things according to the Most High. That’s why it is important to study the Scriptures, to know them and to examine ourselves.

When Christians celebrate the Eucharist or Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper), they are urged by God to  thoroughly examine themselves and to review their deeds, words and thoughts and repent, so that they may not be later judged by God.

But a man mustexamine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a numbersleep. (1 Corinthians 11:28-30)(NASB)

May God give us good and faithful hearts to study the Word of God, to believe and live according to God’s will.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru