(89) Living with a good conscience.

Whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:8-10)

For even though no monstrous thing frightened them, they shook at the passing of insects and the hissing of reptiles, and perished trembling, reluctant to face even the air that they could nowhere escape. For wickedness, of its nature cowardly, testifies in its own condemnation, and because of a distressed conscience, always magnifies misfortunes. For fear is nought but the surrender of the helps that come from reason; (Wisd 17:9-11)

Because of this, I always strive to keep my conscience clear before God and man. (Acts 24:16)

This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. (1 Pet 3:21-22)

Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience. (Rom 13:5)

When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ. (1 Cor 8:12)

I mean not your own conscience, but the other’s. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience? (1 Cor 10:29)

Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged. Rather, we have renounced shameful, hidden things; not acting deceitfully or falsifying the word of God, but by the open declaration of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (2 Cor 4:1-2)

The aim of this instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. (1 Tim 1:5)