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The Power of a Clear Conscience
Is your conscience holding you prisoner? That's not how God intends for you to live. Your conscience was created to guide you and point you to freedom from guilt and bad habits. Discover how no life is beyond redemption and put yourself on the path toward experiencing renewed hope and real change.
176 pages, ebook
Published July 26, 2016
41 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Erwin W. Lutzer
159 books270 followersErwin W. Lutzer is senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Loyola University, he is the author of numerous books, including the Gold Medallion Award winner "Hitler's Cross" and the best seller "One Minute After You Die". He is also a teacher on radio programs heard on more than 700 stations throughout the United States and the world, including "Songs in the Night," "The Moody Church Hour," and the daily feature "Running to Win." He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area and have three married children and seven grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 30, 2016
Each of us insists on being innocent at all cost, even if he has to accuse the whole human race and heaven itself. God knows the shame you have brought on yourself and the shame others have imposed upon you. Either way, claim this promise. “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5
Does that statement tug at your heart? I know it did mine. In my head knowledge of a Christian, it is by confessing and repenting that I can come to the presence of God with Christ as my mediator. It is the conscience that brings me to the cross. However, my head knowledge does not always reach my heart. Mr. Lutzer does an excellent job with clear conscience explanation of what a conscience is, how we are deceived by our conscience and how we in our conscience come to be cleansed by God knowing that he covers us. It is not having a clear conscience that is cleansed by faith in God that we run into issues in our walk with the Lord and others. There is a freedom we have by having our conscience cleansed by God that in our own efforts, we become enslaved by addiction, hopelessness, and despair. The pitfalls are described well and resonated well with me.
Living in a fallen world and the Deceiver the enemy of God and an enemy of those created in his image, we are in a battle for 1 Timothy 1:5. How we fight that battle matters. It is good to know what the tactics of the enemy is and how we can battle with the truth.
What does the blood of Christ have to do with battle? Everything and an understanding of the Old Testament makes way for the believer to lay claim on the promises. It prevents us from the efforts of self-atonement and putting our faith in Christ. Self-atonement can come in many faces. How we devalue ourselves and guilt. Many times in our self-atonement, we are become depressed and bitter.
Living in a clear conscience is a difficult thing because we are dealing with the flesh. Narcissism is something that must be overcome by dying to self. A great explanation of narcissism that is very crystal clear that as a Christian we must put to death. Another insightful gem is not being able to have empathy for others because of not dealing with our own pain that we struggle in relationship to help others in pain. We run from the pain of others because of fear and anxiety.
.
Some of the quotes that I found encouraging as I struggle for 1 Timothy 1:5.
Ponder something I’ve said before,; The issue is not the greatness of our sin but the beauty of the robes that cover us.
Depression, hopelessness, regret and overwhelming guilt. The blood of Christ gives us acceptance before God independent of our performance.
A heart that feels condemned cannot have confidence before God. And if we don’t have confidence toward God, we cannot witness with a sense of freedom and assurance. Our conscience does not have the last word.
I have much appreciation for this study. It brings me to the battle lines with the tools for combat.
A Special Thank You to Harvest House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Does that statement tug at your heart? I know it did mine. In my head knowledge of a Christian, it is by confessing and repenting that I can come to the presence of God with Christ as my mediator. It is the conscience that brings me to the cross. However, my head knowledge does not always reach my heart. Mr. Lutzer does an excellent job with clear conscience explanation of what a conscience is, how we are deceived by our conscience and how we in our conscience come to be cleansed by God knowing that he covers us. It is not having a clear conscience that is cleansed by faith in God that we run into issues in our walk with the Lord and others. There is a freedom we have by having our conscience cleansed by God that in our own efforts, we become enslaved by addiction, hopelessness, and despair. The pitfalls are described well and resonated well with me.
Living in a fallen world and the Deceiver the enemy of God and an enemy of those created in his image, we are in a battle for 1 Timothy 1:5. How we fight that battle matters. It is good to know what the tactics of the enemy is and how we can battle with the truth.
What does the blood of Christ have to do with battle? Everything and an understanding of the Old Testament makes way for the believer to lay claim on the promises. It prevents us from the efforts of self-atonement and putting our faith in Christ. Self-atonement can come in many faces. How we devalue ourselves and guilt. Many times in our self-atonement, we are become depressed and bitter.
Living in a clear conscience is a difficult thing because we are dealing with the flesh. Narcissism is something that must be overcome by dying to self. A great explanation of narcissism that is very crystal clear that as a Christian we must put to death. Another insightful gem is not being able to have empathy for others because of not dealing with our own pain that we struggle in relationship to help others in pain. We run from the pain of others because of fear and anxiety.
.
Some of the quotes that I found encouraging as I struggle for 1 Timothy 1:5.
Ponder something I’ve said before,; The issue is not the greatness of our sin but the beauty of the robes that cover us.
Depression, hopelessness, regret and overwhelming guilt. The blood of Christ gives us acceptance before God independent of our performance.
A heart that feels condemned cannot have confidence before God. And if we don’t have confidence toward God, we cannot witness with a sense of freedom and assurance. Our conscience does not have the last word.
I have much appreciation for this study. It brings me to the battle lines with the tools for combat.
A Special Thank You to Harvest House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
December 11, 2016
I noticed that another reviewer said this book was for mature Christians. Honestly, I’m not even sure what a mature Christian is like. The title seems too lofty for me—it brings to mind people who have reached a level of near perfection. I have been a Christian for almost twenty years, and I still don’t feel completely mature in the faith. I’m still learning.
After reading this book, I have an entirely different opinion: I feel this book is for everyone—Christian and non Christian alike. It is for you if you are struggling with letting go of addictions or those times in your life that you look back at something you did years ago and you feel so ashamed of your actions that your cheeks still burn. This book is for you if you had a less than perfect upbringing or you were abused--if you feel unworthy, in mental anguish or are contemplating suicide. This book is for you if you are curious about becoming a Christian, and it’s also for you if after years of becoming a Christian, you still feel as if your garments will never be white enough because you are so undeserving of being clean.
It’s for the hurting everywhere.
This book tells you about God’s invitation to come as you are. Come and be forgiven by the only one who truly can offer you forgiveness. Don’t wait until you are perfect or mature—come now and be set free. Whatever you have done in your life—forgiveness is possible. You don’t have to listen to the devil’s lies whispered to you that you will never be clean because of your past. Jesus came to offer you offer you forgiveness and set you free.
After reading this book, I have an entirely different opinion: I feel this book is for everyone—Christian and non Christian alike. It is for you if you are struggling with letting go of addictions or those times in your life that you look back at something you did years ago and you feel so ashamed of your actions that your cheeks still burn. This book is for you if you had a less than perfect upbringing or you were abused--if you feel unworthy, in mental anguish or are contemplating suicide. This book is for you if you are curious about becoming a Christian, and it’s also for you if after years of becoming a Christian, you still feel as if your garments will never be white enough because you are so undeserving of being clean.
It’s for the hurting everywhere.
This book tells you about God’s invitation to come as you are. Come and be forgiven by the only one who truly can offer you forgiveness. Don’t wait until you are perfect or mature—come now and be set free. Whatever you have done in your life—forgiveness is possible. You don’t have to listen to the devil’s lies whispered to you that you will never be clean because of your past. Jesus came to offer you offer you forgiveness and set you free.
July 7, 2025
It’s a refreshing reminder that I never graduate from the gospel. It has had and still has the power to free me from past shame, cleanse me from present guilt, and empower me to turn from sin to share the gospel with a clear conscience.
November 14, 2025
First book I've read by this author.
Overall, the book was good.
I disagree with his comments about baptism.
Overall, the book was good.
I disagree with his comments about baptism.
August 10, 2016
This is an interesting read but for mature Christians only. If you were a newly born Christian this would not be a book for you. It is for someone who is looking for meat it would be over the head of someone who is on milk. It is confusing in places but If you are looking for answers to how you get past any shame in your life and give it to GOD you can find some here but it is for those who have lived the life of Christianity for a while, not for new sheep.. It is informative and insightful with a lot of scripture to back up what he has to say but there are times where he forgets to put in the name of the book where the passage is from for you too look up the scripture verse is from.
April 4, 2017
This book by Erwin W. Lutzer is a very helpful book. It is practical and deals with problems that Christians often face, problems related to a guilty conscience. The author shows that some guilt is false guilt. He also shows how to handle guilt feelings. This book is an easy read and would be most beneficial for new Christians as well as more mature Christians.
December 21, 2016
Clear Conscience
Made me realize that Grace can always allow me to have a clear conscience and even if I do sin, I'm still a work in progress
Made me realize that Grace can always allow me to have a clear conscience and even if I do sin, I'm still a work in progress
March 16, 2019
Fabulous book detailing what a soiled conscience can do to us and how to clear that conscience and get on with your Christian walk.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews