You and Your Conscience

In this message covering 1 John 3:19–24, Chuck Swindoll addresses the complex and often troublesome voice of the human conscience. Acknowledging that First John is a "tough letter" full of high standards, Swindoll presents this passage as a gracious "interlude"—a pause where John helps believers breathe and examine their hearts [9–10]. Swindoll defines the "heart" in this context not as the physical organ, but as the conscience, the place where decisions are made and emotions are stored. The sermon is divided into two emotional states: when the conscience condemns and when it affirms. Swindoll explains that a believer's conscience is not always a perfect guide because it can be skewed by past experiences or bad information; therefore, Truth must trump feelings. When our hearts condemn us, Swindoll points to verse 20: "God is greater than our heart." God is the final Judge who knows all things, including our true motives, often defending us when our own hearts excessively accuse us [16–18]. Conversely, when the conscience is clear, the believer enjoys three specific benefits: confidence (freedom of speech) before God, answers to prayer, and the assurance of the indwelling Spirit. Swindoll illustrates this confidence using a personal story of his grandson meeting the Commandant of the Marine Corps, interacting with respect but without fear. The message concludes with a rare moment of personal vulnerability, where Swindoll shares his own "sensitive conscience" regarding his ministry, pledging to the congregation that he will never "fake it" or live a double life, maintaining integrity to the end [20–22, 31–34].

Message Key Facts:

• The "Interlude" Theory: Swindoll interprets verses 19–24 as a parenthetical break in John's intense letter. He notes that the phrase "We will know by this" appears at the beginning (v. 19) and end (v. 24) of the passage, acting as "bookends" to this section on reassurance.
• Punctuation Matters: Swindoll suggests placing a period after the word "truth" in verse 19 ("We will know by this that we are of the truth."). This connects the assurance back to the previous verses about loving others in deed and truth, rather than just feeling guilty [11–13].
• The Tom Anderson Story: Swindoll cites Gary Inrig’s book True North to tell the story of Tom Anderson, a man who decided to love his wife as an "act of the will" for two weeks. The experiment resulted in genuine restoration, illustrating that right actions (truth) often precede right feelings [5–7].
• The Three Actors: Quoting John Stott, Swindoll describes the internal conflict of verse 20 as a courtroom drama with three actors: the Heart (the accuser), Ourselves (the defendant), and God (the Judge). Because God knows everything, He can overrule the "misgivings" of an overactive conscience.
• Confidence as "Free Speech": The word "confidence" in verse 21 implies openness, frankness, and freedom of speech. Swindoll compares this to his grandson, Noah, speaking freely with General Charles Krulak, the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Believers can have this same respectful ease with God [19–22].
• Prayer and Sovereignty: Discussing the promise that "whatever we ask we receive," Swindoll clarifies this is not a "blank check" for material wealth. He shares the story of his friend Mac Hawkins in Australia, who was dying of cancer. Swindoll explains that confident prayer involves asking for comfort and intervention while ultimately submitting to God’s will, rather than "commanding" healing [23–25].
• The Indwelling Spirit: Swindoll emphasizes that unlike the Old Testament era (e.g., Samson or David), where the Spirit came and went, the New Testament believer enjoys the permanent residence of the Holy Spirit. This indwelling presence is the source of assurance [27–28].
• Swindoll’s Personal Vow: In a moment of transparency, Swindoll reveals he has a "very sensitive conscience." He quotes Clarence Edward Macartney regarding the minister's integrity and vows to his congregation that there are "no skeletons" in his closet and he will not betray their trust [31–34].

Message References:

• 1 John 3:19–24: The primary text regarding the heart, conscience, and confidence before God.
• 1 John 3:11: "This is the message... that we should love one another" (referenced as the context for "being of the truth").
• Hebrews 4:16: "Come boldly before the throne of grace," referenced regarding the confidence believers have in prayer.
• 1 Corinthians 9:27: Paul's concern that "I myself should be a castaway," cited by Swindoll regarding his own seriousness about ministry integrity.
• Psalm 139:23–24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart," used as the closing prayer of examination.
• Ephesians 4:28: Referenced to illustrate how punctuation changes meaning ("Let him who stole steal no more" vs. "Let him who stole, steal no more") [11–12].

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll