WEDNESDAY July 30, 2025
A Defiled Conscience
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
Titus 1:15
I love that Paul gave a good contrast between those who have a pure conscience and the false teachers whose minds and conscience were defiled. Christians walk in holiness––purity. Believers embrace Christian doctrines that free them from legalism. Christians believe that any food can be eaten with thanksgiving and a clear conscience:
...God created [food] to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer (1 Timothy 4:3-4).
Christians believe that Jesus is God:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:1-2).
Christians believe that the only way their sin can be forgiven is through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. His blood took away their sin once and for all (Hebrews 9:24-28). Jewish false teachers insisted that to be saved, Christians were still bound to keep certain laws, including circumcision and restriction of eating certain foods. They preached legalism and not grace. Before God, they remained defiled by their own self-righteousness. Seriously, no one can earn God’s favor by doing any of these outward things. What about the heart––the inward man?
Maybe you grew up with religious traditions, having no understanding of what a relationship with Jesus is like. I encourage you to read the Gospel of John. Pray and ask the Lord how to have a relationship with Him.
The Great God values not the service of men, if the heart be not in it: The Lord sees and judges the heart; he has no regard to outward forms of worship, if there be no inward adoration, if no devout affection be employed therein. It is therefore a matter of infinite importance, to have the whole heart engaged steadfastly to God.
~Isaac Watts~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
