1 John 3:20 - Meaning and Application

The apostle has already suggested that, even among believers, there may be a real confidence of heart toward God. Now he goes on to strengthen the authority of conscience. If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things (1 John 3:20). Here “our heart” means the self-examining power by which we look at our own thoughts, character, and actions, and then judge our standing before God. In other words, this is conscience, our moral awareness of ourselves.

This conscience can act as a witness, a judge, and even an executor of judgment. It either accuses or excuses, condemns or clears us, and God himself gave it this role. The spirit of man, with this power, is like the Lord’s lamp, searching the deepest parts of a person’s inner life (Proverbs 20:27). Conscience is God’s appointed representative in the soul, speaking in his name and carrying out its work for him. A good conscience gives an answer toward God (1 Peter 3:21).

God is the chief Judge over this court. If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, stronger in power and higher in judgment. That means the verdict of conscience points to God’s own verdict. If conscience condemns us, God does too, because he is a greater witness than our own awareness. He knows more against us than we know ourselves, and his judgment will stand and be carried out fully.

This is also the thought behind another apostle’s words: “I know nothing against myself,” that is, in the matter where he was being criticized by some (1 Corinthians 4:4). Paul was saying, “I am not aware of any deceit or unfaithfulness in my work. Yet that does not settle the case. My own conscience is not the final court. The Lord is the one who judges me finally, and his judgment will decide between us.” So conscience matters greatly, but it is not the highest judge.

On the other hand, if conscience does not condemn us, then God does not condemn us either. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God (1 John 3:21). Then we can trust that he accepts us now, and that he will acquit us at the great day of judgment. A careless person might say, “My conscience does not accuse me, so God must be satisfied with me.” But a tender believer might fear the opposite and ask, “If my conscience accuses me, must God surely condemn me too?”

The answer is that this verse is not talking about mistakes made by a blind or poorly informed conscience. Ignorance, error, prejudice, partiality, and self-deceit can distort its verdict. Those faults belong to the mind, will, feelings, desires, or even to a troubled body and imagination, not to conscience itself as conscience. Conscience is properly self-awareness, and when it works as God designed it, what it binds on earth is bound in heaven. So conscience should be listened to, but it should also be well taught and carefully followed.

This also shows the privilege of those who have a good conscience toward God. They have a place in heaven’s court, and their requests are heard there: whatever we ask we receive from him (1 John 3:22). This promise assumes that they are not asking for anything against God’s honor or against their own spiritual good. In that case, they may expect to receive what they ask.

That expectation fits their character and way of life, because they keep his commandments and do what pleases him (1 John 3:22). Obedient people are ready for blessing, and they have the promise of a hearing. Those who do things that displease God should not expect him to favor their prayers, for he does not hear the prayers of those who cherish sin (Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 28:9).