Person (12) Conscience/Decisions

We make decisions all the time. Some decisions are instinctive, whereas others are more reasoned. Humans have the ability to consider options and evaluate them before making a decision. The memory, imagination, emotions and mind interact to support the decision making process.

God created humans with the ability to distinguish between good and evil.

You will be like God, knowing good and evil (Gen 3:5).

I suspect that most of our knowledge of good and evil comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The gift of discernment is one specific way that he does this (1 Cor 12:10). He also convicts us personally when we are going the wrong way.

He will convict the world of sin and righteousness (John 16:8).

The Holy Spirit can still do this for people who have rejected him.

However, because we were created in the image of God, we have an innate ability to distinguish good and evil that has survived the fall. We call this facility our conscience.

People who harden their hearts and choose to follow after evil can gradually silence than inner moral voice.

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts (Eph 4:18).

This happened to Nebuchadnezzar.

His heart became arrogant and hardened with pride (Dan 5:20).

Those who have chosen to follow Jesus should treasure and nurture their ability to discern good and evil.