My Conscience Stands

Michael E. Wood
December 19, 2011

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:17-18

What a glorious liberty is ours through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! And what a wonderful thing it is to know the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free. Richard Sibbes in his work now entitled, “Glorious Freedom”*, which was published four years after his death continues to speak with thought provoking accolades of this freedom of which we have been granted as children of the living God by the Spirit of Christ.

“Now where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty, that is, a freedom not to enslave our judgments, much less conscience, to any man….


Therefore, where the Spirit of Christ is, there is a liberty of independence. A man is not dependant upon any other man, beyond what agrees with the rules of religion. He is dependent only upon God and upon divine principles and grounds. The apostle Paul says, ‘The spiritual man judgeth all things, but is judged of none.’(1st Cor.2:15)….


Therefore Christians should know, and take notice of, their excellency. ‘Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty’ to judge all things as far as they come within their reach and calling, and to judge them rightly. We should know how to maintain the credit of a Christian, the liberty independent of all but God and independent of other things as far as it agrees with conscience and religion….


A true Christian is the greatest servant and the greatest free man in the world. He has a spirit that will yield to none. In things spiritual he reserves a liberty for his judgment, yet for outward conformity of life he is a servant to all, to do them good. Love makes him a servant.”

An amazing thing happened as I was typing this up. Two young “Mormon Missionaries” knocked on the door and I had the opportunity to speak to them the truth of the gospel and read this poem to them.

In Christ alone, my conscience stands
As He for freedom set me free,
For on the cross He loosed the bands
Of sin’s dominion over me.
For by His blood He paid the cost;
The double cure, for all was lost.
To Him alone, all glory be,
Who is my strength and liberty.


Though men may seek to steal my joy,
Christ is the One who is my head.
No plots or schemes they may employ
Can loose from Him who once was dead.
For with Him, I was made to rise,
And He my everlasting prize
Shall keep me as He lives above
And answers all things by His love.


Though in this world we often groan
By what remains within, without,
We are assured Christ did atone
And will end all these with a shout.
The final trump will then be blown
And all will know as they are known,
And every man will bow the knee,
As all in truth shall worship Thee!


And by the way, this can also be sung to the Lord by the tune of “In Christ Alone”.

* Puritan Paperback by The Banner of Truth Trust.