Faith is served by a sound conscience. Faith demands deeds of love. It is, in fact, love of God, love of Christ, and love of the Holy Spirit. When we take pains to keep our conscience free of offense at all times, then we are given growth and activity in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, then our inner life becomes anchored in God and in all the powers of his spirit. Only love is without offense.
Sinfulness remains characteristic of our nature.
But the grace of the sacrificed life of Jesus the grace of his blood continually purifies our conscience through the Holy Spirit. Again and again, grace purifies it from all dead works and all offensive actions, from everything that violates the justice and love that go hand in hand with faith. The spirit of Jesus Christ leads believers to a life that steadily increases in clarity. And yet the believer continues to be bound to all others by a common guilt. Nevertheless, this guilt has been wiped out.