1 Peter 3:16 ¹⁶but with gentleness and fear, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

For the first century believers who may have been experiencing hardship, living in a pagan environment, or socially powerless, their simple and gentle response of humble love like Jesus spoke more powerfully than the greatest rhetorician. This type of approach will win people over more quickly than a strong sermon condemning them. The Holy Spirit can bring conviction and plant the seed of hope in people’s hearts through believers who love like God. It is not our place to condemn people but to show them a better way, one that offers eternal life.

As we go out into the world in the footsteps of Jesus by following his example of self-giving and sacrificial love (2:21-25), we must so with a good consciences. The conscience (syneidēsin) is the awareness of right or wrong behavior. This awareness comes from “agreeing in thinking” with God’s revelation to us. If our motives are wrong, we become hypocrites who may be tempted to gain power or influence or to make ourselves impressive to people. Unbelievers can quickly see the mask that shields a guilty conscience or impure motives. What makes a conscience good (agathēn)? Having a holy heart before the holy God. Genuine and seeking faith will be open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit that something is not right in our motives. Humble repentance removes the guilt, shame, and sin so God can do the deeper work of cleansing and strengthening our conscience so that we live in obedient conviction about the hope we have in Christ. Obedience strengthens the resolve of faith and builds strength in our conscience.

We can have strength to meet hostile people with the word of hope. People may try to criticize, ridicule, or harm us because of our holy lifestyle, but we can only stand up to this persecution with God’s help. The Holy Spirit will confirm our conscience and provide the resolve to continue to live in holiness.