Serving God with a Clear Conscience - Lessons from 2 Corinthians 5:9-11

SERVING GOD WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE: LESSONS FROM 2 CORINTHIANS 5:9-11

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

Today, we continue with our series through Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians. 

During my previous series, I picked some excerpts in the preceding chapters which I found to be of interest in conveying some moral lessons to our Christian community.

In the above passage, Paul continues with the thoughts that he had earlier commenced in 2 Corinthians 5:1-6 concerning the assurance of resurrection for believers.

Paul was calming the fears that hard pervaded the Corinthians concerning the hope of resurrection. 

We examined this passage in our previous article.

In the passage of 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, the writer introduces a new trajectory to the exhortation. He reminds believers of the importance of serving God with a clear conscience, knowing that God will judge our works and reward each of us in accordance with the diligence of our service.

PASSAGE ANALYSIS

Here's the text of 2 Corinthians 5:9-11:

"Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences." (NKJV). 

COMMENTARY

Notice that the first statement in 2 Cor. 5:9 is part of Paul's concluding remarks to his long exhortation that can be traced back to 2 Cor. 4. This brief passage should in fact be read together with 2 Cor 5:6-8 for the sake of context and flow of thought. 

Paul was initially describing the significance of the new life in Christ for those who have a covenant relationship with Him. 

One of the outstanding attributes of a faithful Christian is their consistency and persistence in the faith and in the service of God in pleasant and unpleasant circumstances, in season or out of season (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2).

It is instructive that on several occasions described in Scripture, Paul and his ministry associates contended for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (cf. Jude 1:3). They never gave up on their missionary calling despite the many afflictions they endured in soldiering for Christ. These afflictions and perils are listed in 2 Cor. 11:22-33).

Paul reminds us in 2 Cor. 5:9 that effective service to God is actuated by a clear and godly conscience towards God. Whether we are present or away from our Christian communities, we ought to seek God's approval in our walk of faith and this should be uppermost in our hearts. 

In 2 Cor 5:10, Paul explains the reason for his previous statement. He declares that all believers will one day appear before God's throne where their works shall be tested. This assessment is described in greater detail in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 which says in part "... each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire..." 

This passage definitely contemplates a different Day of judgment that is distinct from the one described in Revelation 20:11-15. 

The Revelation 20 judgment concerns the rest of the dead after the resurrection of believers described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The latter group primarily consists of the wicked and those who are later martyred during the great tribulation (cf. Rev 13:11:18). 

The Bible is explicit on the justification of believers as a basis for their being sealed in Christ (cf. Ephesians 4:30). 

Romans 8:1 says "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." 

Our condemnation in Adam was discharged on account of our faith in Christ Jesus and the atonement in His blood. 

Paul's appeal for a clear conscience is therefore informed by his burning desire to please Christ at all times no matter where he was. 

Being well known to God and to men [2 Corinthians 5:11] is evidence of a clear conscience. Scripture elsewhere says "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God" (1 John 3:20-21).

Paul later reveals that there was a group of preachers who were hypocritical. They never served God in truth [see 2 Cor 5:13]. These preachers were probably part of the radical Jews who were opposed to Paul's apostolic ministry. They appear to have questioned the faithfulness of Paul's preaching (2 Cor 5:12) and the validity of his apostolic calling. 

Notice Paul's spirited defense in 1 Corinthians 9:1-2: "Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord."

Paul was possibly responding to the same or similar group of opponents in 2 Cor 5:13-15. Notice the closing statement in 5:15.

Paul's defense of his apostolic ministry appears to run through the rest of the passage of 5:16-21. 

ILLUSTRATION

In one congregation where I happened to worship nearly three decades ago, a negative report was received concerning one church elder. 

The man happened to be one of my principal mentors in that congregation. He was a humble and down to earth believer whose spiritual maturity was beyond reproach.

A certain woman who lived in the same court with him claimed that he had made advances towards her. She was not a member of that church but she conveyed the report through a church member.

The report was restricted to the elders in accordance with the authority of 1 Timothy 5:19.

When confronted with the accusations, the man vehemently denied having approached the woman or dealt with her in an inappropriate manner. 

He reported that the woman had made advances towards him on several occasions which he flatly rejected on the basis of his Christian convictions.

The man was deeply shaken by the development and he immediately chose to step aside from his position as an elder. He also declined to partake of the Lord's Table until the matter was investigated and determined.

Some elders were tasked with carrying out investigations into the matter in order to establish the truth.

The woman however refused to appear and testify before the elders despite several attempts to get her to do so. 

It later emerged that the woman had falsely filed accusations against the elder after he rejected her advances. The man's family lived far out of Town and the woman sought to take advantage of the man who lived in a single room next to hers during the week and would join his family over the weekend. 

One Christian woman who lived in the same court and who knew both parties testified before the elders that the woman had trained her eyes on the man for some time and had once sworn to "fix" him if he persisted in ignoring her.

The elders council finally resolved to unanimously absolve the man of any blame. They had no basis for disciplining him without substantiation and corroboration of facts from the woman and any reliable witnesses. 

Besides, this was the first accusation they had received on him. 

The elder however insisted that he  remains in self imposed restriction to allow for a further opportunity for the woman to show up...

He sought a clear conscience...

The woman never showed up in the end and the matter was closed.

CONCLUSION

Every believer has an obligation to hold a clear conscience in their walk with God and in the fear of Him and to relate with men with this truth in mind. 

No matter how faithful we are in the walk of faith, we must bear in mind that there is a Sanballat and a Tobias who will arise and attempt to place our spiritual integrity in doubt.

What is significant though is to hold a clear conscience before God. This is the seal of our sincerity in walking with Christ and serving Him in truth.

This is not to suggest that believers are to attain spiritual perfection on earth. This is impossible. Christ alone was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

We are sinful vessels by reason of our fallenness in Adam and only God's grace in Christ Jesus protects us from God's righteous condemnation. 

We should therefore not make a show of our achievements or boast of our wisdom but ascribe all things to God's enabling grace. 

Pleasing Christ is a life long preoccupation for every child of God. Whenever we are unable to reconcile our consciences on any matter, we ought to go to the cross of Calvary and receive the cleansing of the sinless blood of Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 4:16). 

Where we have inadvertently offended others in our walk of faith or in our service to God, we ought to acknowledge the offense promptly and seek forgiveness and reconciliation with them in the fear of God.

Do you have a clear conscience?

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021