1 Corinthians 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

There is among you some who do not follow His commandments.

That statement in general terms does not point to any one individual. Without being named, is our tendency to react “Not me!” I have been there and done that. This is how I know the ease of casting off guilt with a shrug, hiding in a crowd of faceless people, as if God doesn’t see me.

1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Conviction of condition does not usually come with a hot iron. That is saved for those in open rebellion. For the majority of us correction should come as a tiny twinge in our conscience. I say should because if we have a good relationship with our Lord a gentle word should be enough.

Some of us still live with the old man’s conscience that we came to terms with our need for salvation. It served us well then but should be put aside just as we put aside the old man’s ways.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The conscience is a reflection of the heart condition. We have been given a new heart and with it a new conscience, yet in our mind and memories we remember how the old conscience worked. We should learn how this new conscience works just as we have had to learn the ways of our new heart.

In our hearts we know when we are about to sin. The Holy Spirit, our guide, pricks our conscience at the mere thought of sin. Ignoring those little warnings is what leads to scare tissue and if allowed to continue without repentance the beginning of the hardening of the heart.