If Christ has cleansed my conscience, then why do I feel so guilty? Because in Christ, we have a conscience that is still guilty when we sin, but it can be cleared in Christ. So when our conscience is bothering us, we should 1- Assess – We have nothing apart from Christ but forgiveness in Christ. 2 – Confess – Our Sins. 3- Profess – Christ’s atoning work in our lives.
Below is the edited sermon transcript, revised for grammar, clarity, and flow while preserving the original meaning and tone. All scripture quotes remain in the ESV, as specified. I’ve streamlined repetitive phrases, corrected grammatical errors, clarified theological points, and improved readability without altering the core message or structure.
Sermon Transcript
Our text in Hebrews continues the theme that Jesus is better—specifically, better than the Old Testament sacrifices. These sacrifices were a shadow; Christ is the substance. This passage does something remarkable: it proves Christ’s superiority not only through the New Testament but also from the Old Testament, quoting Psalm 40:6–8:
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
Christ’s body is the one perfect sacrifice that takes away all sin. Jesus, who perfectly obeyed God’s law, is the spotless sacrifice who gave Himself in our place. Having no sin of His own, He died for the sins of His people. By a single offering, He has perfected—forever—those who are being sanctified, that is, those who believe in Him and follow Him. To be perfected means to be made complete, and for all time means forever. If you know this salvation, rejoice in it. If you don’t, trust in it.
Let’s pray:
Lord God, we thank You for Your faithfulness and for the salvation found in Jesus. We thank You that the law was a shadow pointing to the substance of Christ. May we trust in Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Loose Thread: The Matter of Conscience
We have a few minutes left, so I want to pick up a loose thread in Hebrews: the matter of conscience. This theme appears several times in the book, and it’s worth exploring. What is conscience? Conscience is the God-given ability to discern right from wrong, making moral judgments. When we act against what we believe is true, our conscience may accuse us, leaving us with guilt. Conversely, when we follow our conscience, we stand firm, as Martin Luther did at the Diet of Worms, declaring, “It is neither safe nor right to go against the Word of God or my conscience. I am bound by my conscience; I can do no other. Here I stand.”
Hebrews speaks of a clean or sanctified conscience. Everyone is born with a conscience. Paul writes in Romans 2:15 of unbelievers:
“They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.”
Yet sin corrupts our conscience. It distorts our moral judgments, causing us to feel guilty for things we shouldn’t, or not guilty for things we should. We may see someone acting immorally—say, cutting in line—and wonder, “How does their conscience allow that?” Sin warps our sense of right and wrong.
The solution is Christ, as our text today shows in Hebrews 10:22:
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
We often think of conscience in terms of emotions, like guilt. But Hebrews suggests conscience is more about our intellectual evaluation of right and wrong. The Old Testament sacrifices couldn’t perfect the conscience. Hebrews 9:9 explains:
“According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.”
These sacrifices might provide temporary emotional relief—offering a sheep could feel like “doing something” to atone for sin. But intellectually, they didn’t solve the problem. Hebrews 10:2–4 continues:
“Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
The blood of bulls and goats couldn’t remove sin. It served as a reminder of sin, not a solution. Intellectually, worshipers knew these sacrifices didn’t truly atone, leaving their consciences burdened.
This isn’t just ancient history—it’s relevant today. A guilty conscience often drives us to do something to make up for our wrongs. Pastors, missionaries, and others may work tirelessly out of guilt, trying to earn God’s favor. Some wealthy individuals give generously to offset past sins, but no amount of good works can undo sin. Only Christ can.
Hebrews 9:14 contrasts the old sacrifices with Christ’s work:
“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Christ purifies our conscience from dead works—efforts to atone for sin apart from Him, whether Old Testament sacrifices or modern attempts to earn salvation. Instead, we begin with His gift of grace and work from there. Hebrews 10:22 urges us:
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Drawing near to Christ is the heart of Hebrews’ command. His atoning work is the center of everything we need. This full assurance of faith isn’t confidence in our ability to believe, but in Christ’s perfect sacrifice, which removes our sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). Our hearts are sprinkled clean by Christ’s blood, purifying our conscience, much like Old Testament priests sprinkled objects to sanctify them.
Why Do I Still Feel Guilty?
If Christ has cleansed our conscience, why do we still feel guilty? Let’s examine the promise. Hebrews 9:14 says Christ’s blood purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. The purification isn’t about erasing all feelings of guilt; it’s about freeing us from sin’s weight so we can serve God with joy, not obligation. An evil conscience is one that malfunctions, driving us to dead works—efforts to earn salvation. Christ resets our conscience, enabling us to move past guilt because our sins are forgiven.
In the Old Testament, there was no final forgiveness, so guilt lingered. In Christ, our sins are cast away, allowing our conscience to move forward to serve God joyfully, not to cover our mistakes. It’s like giving a Mother’s Day gift out of love today versus giving one tomorrow to make up for forgetting. The gift given in love brings more glory to the recipient.
To work through our conscience, consider three steps:
- Assess: Recognize who we are in Christ. Apart from Him, we have nothing to offer. But in Christ, we are perfected. This frees us to act for God’s glory, not to cover our sins.
- Confess: Guided by God’s Word, confess your sins. Acknowledge your wrongs to God and, where necessary, to others. Confession brings assurance that Christ has covered your sins.
- Profess: Proclaim Christ’s atoning work. His sacrifice is sufficient to make your sins “as far as the east is from the west.” Trust in His completed work.
These steps address two common ways our conscience misfires:
- Overactive Conscience: Some feel trapped by unwarranted guilt. For example, if you grew up with a harsh parent whose criticism lingers, you may feel you never measure up. Assess yourself in Christ: no one measures up, but Jesus lived the perfect life and perfected you through His sacrifice. Confess your feelings to God and others, letting their assurance free you from false guilt. Profess Christ’s work, trusting His obedience covers you completely.
- Underactive Conscience: Others are truly guilty but feel little remorse. Imagine someone who stole a clearly marked disc from a disc golf course (sorry, Bob!). Coming to Christ, they feel new guilt—a good sign, as it drives them to repentance. Assess: you’ve sinned, but Christ has accepted you. Confess your sin to God and make it right with the person you wronged (return that disc!). Profess God’s grace, giving Him glory for forgiveness. This restores relationships with God and others, freeing the conscience.
For those with an overactive conscience, the promise of a heart “sprinkled clean” is a daily anchor. Trust Christ’s finished work to free you from guilt’s weight. Let’s pray, especially for those struggling with a guilty conscience:
Lord God, I pray for those hearing a voice that says, “You’re not good enough.” Speak the truth of Jesus Christ: “I have loved you, bought you with My life, and sprinkled you clean from this conscience.” Help them look to You, trust You, and live free. In Jesus’ name, Amen.