Part One: The Fruit of Sin-Consciousness
Under the old covenant, consciousness was governed by the Law. The Law continually called sin to remembrance because its repeated sacrifices could never permanently take sin away or perfect the conscience of the worshiper (Hebrews 9:9; 10:1–4).
Atonement was provided through the sacrifice, but its promise had to be received by faith. Without faith in what God had provided, the worshiper could remain conscious of sin even after the sacrifice had been offered. As discussed in Enlightened Understanding: A Christ-Centered Philosophy, what continually occupies the consciousness influences how a person thinks and lives (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35; Hebrews 4:2).
Under the new covenant, our consciousness should continually bring to mind the finished sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Father’s love, and the Holy Spirit’s power. Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever, the Father demonstrated His love by giving His Son for us, and the Holy Spirit now lives within us and empowers us to live according to God (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 8:11–14; Hebrews 10:10–14).
The two covenant consciousnesses cannot be mixed. We cannot live from Christ’s finished sacrifice while continuing to approach God as though our sins remain unpaid and our conscience remains unclean. Sin-awareness allows the Holy Spirit to identify and correct sin. Sin-consciousness makes sin, guilt, and condemnation the governing reality of the inner life.
Sin-consciousness continually brings sin and guilt to remembrance. New-covenant God-consciousness continually brings to remembrance the finished sacrifice of Jesus, the love of the Father, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. The two cannot govern the conscience at the same time.
Reflect
When I become aware of sin, do I turn to Jesus Christ and His finished sacrifice, or do I allow guilt and condemnation to govern my consciousness?
What do I continually bring to remembrance: my sin or what God has provided through Christ?
The Fruit of Sin-Consciousness
God’s repeated accusations against Israel included:
1. Idolatry and Covenant Unfaithfulness
Israel repeatedly turned away from God to worship idols and the gods of surrounding nations. This was more than bowing before an image; it was covenant unfaithfulness because they gave something else the worship, trust, obedience, and devotion that belonged to God (Exodus 32:1–8; Judges 2:11–13; Jeremiah 2:11–13).
2. Forgetting God and Refusing to Hear Him
Israel forgot the God who delivered, protected, and provided for them. Forgetting God was not merely a failure of memory. They stopped acknowledging Him, listening to His voice, and allowing His Word to govern their lives (Deuteronomy 8:11–19; Psalm 106:21; Jeremiah 7:23–28).
3. Oppressing the Poor and Practicing Injustice
God repeatedly accused Israel’s leaders and people of oppressing the poor, exploiting the vulnerable, shedding innocent blood, and denying justice to those who could not defend themselves. Their religious practices could not please God while injustice governed how they treated other people (Isaiah 1:15–17, 23; Jeremiah 5:26–28; Amos 5:11–12).
4. Committing Spiritual Harlotry through Ungodly Alliances
Israel committed spiritual harlotry by placing its trust in foreign nations and their power instead of trusting God. They sought protection from Egypt, Assyria, and other nations while adopting their practices, making alliances God had not directed, and depending upon human strength for deliverance (Isaiah 30:1–3; 31:1; Jeremiah 2:18, 36–37; Ezekiel 16:26–29).
5. Rejecting God’s Sabbaths and Covenant Order
Israel rejected God’s covenant order by violating His Sabbaths, refusing to give the land its required rest, and keeping Hebrew servants in bondage beyond the appointed time. God commanded Hebrew servants to be released after six years of service and not sent away empty-handed. When Judah released its servants and then forced them back into bondage, God judged the nation for breaking the covenant.
A people whom God delivered from bondage were not permitted to build their prosperity by keeping others in bondage (Leviticus 25:1–7; Deuteronomy 15:12–15; Jeremiah 34:8–17; 2 Chronicles 36:20–21).
Reflect
Which of these accusations reveals an area that I need to examine in my own life?
Have I allowed something other than God to govern my trust, attention, conduct, or treatment of others?
Learning from Israel
The failures of Israel were written for our instruction so that we would not repeat their mistakes (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). The Law was holy, just, and good, but it did them no good when they did not mix what they heard with faith (Romans 7:12; Hebrews 4:2).
Faith Is Based upon the Knowledge of God
What is faith based upon? Faith is based upon the knowledge of God. You cannot believe someone you do not know, and you cannot believe a truth you have never heard. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God because the Word reveals who God is, what He has said, and what He has provided (Romans 10:14, 17).
Paul prayed:
“That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Colossians 1:10
As our knowledge of God increases, our faith develops, and our conduct comes into greater agreement with Him. Knowledge strengthens God-consciousness, and God-consciousness produces a life that reflects God.
God-consciousness keeps that knowledge governing the inner life. Knowledge of God gives faith its foundation. Faith receives what God has revealed. God-consciousness keeps His truth, character, and authority continually before the heart and mind.
Reflect
Is my faith based upon an increasing knowledge of God, or am I trying to believe without consistently learning who He is?
What truth about God do I need to establish more deeply in my heart?