Understanding Conscience, Justice, and Forgiveness
Have you ever had a moment when your conscience kept you awake at night? Maybe you did something you know was wrong, and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t shake the feeling that you’d crossed a line. This feeling—that deep, inescapable sense of guilt—is at the heart of what it means to be unrepentant. In simple terms, to be unrepentant means refusing to admit you’ve done wrong, and not wanting to change. But what does that really mean for your soul, your happiness, and your standing before God?
The Voice of Conscience
Every person, no matter who they are, has an inner voice—call it your conscience—that tells you when you’ve done something wrong. You can try to ignore it, drown it out, or reason with it, but deep down, you know when you’re not right with yourself or with God. If you are living in a way that is unrepentant, your own nature constantly reminds you that you’re still doing things that go against what’s right. It’s like trying to persuade yourself that you’re fine while knowing all along that you’re not.
This inner struggle causes a kind of violence against yourself. While you’re ignoring your conscience, you can neither respect yourself nor expect respect from God. Even if someone were to tell you, “God has forgiven you,” you wouldn’t truly believe it or feel at peace because your own heart would argue otherwise. Forgiveness wouldn’t bring happiness or self-respect unless it was real and accepted deep within.
Facing God Honestly
Here’s a challenge: try to speak honestly before God about your actions. Can you really say, “God, I’ve never turned my back on you. I’ve always treated you as a friend”? Most people would feel uncomfortable making such a claim because, deep down, they know it isn’t true. Your conscience won’t let you forget the times you’ve ignored God’s ways or set aside what you know is right.
If you’re honest, you realize that by your actions, you’ve given up any right to demand God’s favor or kindness. You can’t stand before God and insist, “You shouldn’t punish me—I don’t deserve it.” The truth is, none of us can make that claim with a clear conscience. We’ve all, at some point, chosen our own way over God’s rule.
No Hope of Forgiveness Under the Law Alone
When you look for hope—some guarantee that things can be made right between you and God—your own mind tells you that there is no hope if you’re relying on just your own goodness or the general idea that “God is good.” Some people think that because God is good, He will simply overlook all wrongs. But is that really how justice works?
Imagine a town where a group of people causes havoc and destruction. Should a good mayor just let them go free without any consequences? If he did, what would that say about the law, about justice, or about the safety of everyone else in the town? Real goodness doesn’t mean ignoring wrongs—it means upholding what is right and making sure that the law is respected.
The same goes for God. If God’s law is good, then He can’t just ignore it. Forgiving everyone without any real change would make the law meaningless and encourage more wrong behavior. True goodness requires upholding the law and ensuring that justice is served.
Where Does This Leave Us?
If you feel unrepentant—if you haven’t admitted your wrongs or sought real change—there’s no hope for forgiveness simply by wishing it or assuming God will ignore your actions. Your own conscience, your sense of justice, and the reality of how law and order work all point to the same conclusion: forgiveness isn’t automatic.
Repentance—truly turning away from wrong and seeking to make things right—is the only path to real peace and hope. Until then, your own heart knows the truth, even if you try to deny it. The good news is, the moment you honestly face your conscience and seek God’s mercy, you’ll find the possibility of forgiveness and a new start. But as long as you ignore that inner voice, there’s simply no hope for true repentance or the peace that comes with it.
Minister A Francine Green
February 2026
afrancinegreen.com 