Dispensation #2 – Conscience! Genesis 3:6 – 9:19
The Dispensation of Innocence ended with the temptation and sin of Adam and Eve. Man had seen, and ought to have learned, that even in a perfect environment human beings rebel against God! Once that lesson has been demonstrated, God allows humans to follow the dictates of their own conscience, or moral reasoning.
The word, “conscience” is simply a compound word meaning, “with knowledge.” And the knowledge with which the conscience is equipped is the moral nature of God which is part of His image in mankind – but, which was marred in the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Bible.org points out on their website that there are several God-given functions of the human conscience:
1) It produces guilt. John 8:9-11; Romans 2:14-16
2) It produces a need to repent. Genesis 4:1-4
3) But, it cannot create righteousness in a person and it can be seared (made callous) by continually being ignored. Romans 3:10; 1st Timothy 4:2
Human beings want to live by their own conscience, (let your conscience be your guide) because it can be calloused and overcome. It is impossible for the conscience to serve as a faithful guide for living because it was marred at the time of Adam’s and Eve’s fall into sin.
During this time (approximately 1,000 years) humans, who were living by the leading of their fallen consciences, became worse and worse to the point that God said in Genesis 6:5-7, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.”
So, the Dispensation of Conscience ends with God’s judgment upon mankind in sending the world-wide flood. Being a God of mercy, He spared Noah and his wife, his sons, and their wives to begin the human race again!
Dispensation (Lesson) One: In a perfect environment and with no history of sinful behavior, human beings rebel against the authority and commandment of God!
Dispensation (Lesson) Two: While being allowed to live according to the dictates of their conscience, human beings sear their conscience and devolve deeper and deeper into sin rebelling against the authority and commandments of God!
Next Time: (as the Lord allows) “The Third Dispensation” – Human Government.
LANNYFAULKNER.COM 
Here is something a little different.
Do you believe sociopathy (very little to no conscience)and narcisistic personality disorder is mental illnesses or could it possibly be demonic posession?
I know its a little on/off subject and the reason why I ask is I find that with all the other mental illnesses there is still that area of remorse when something is done wrong even if at the time they did not know what they were doing. However with sociopathy and narcasism there is no remorse and no interest in getting help.
Your thoughts if any?
I believe there is such a thing as real mental illness, and demon possession; but, I think most of what is played out is simple human depravity. No human is a bad as they can be due to God restraining evil in them, but, God allows some to display more than others. The characteristics you mention are present in all humans due to the fall. Thank God, His people are protected from being overcome by them by His indwelling Spirit in our lives. Much of what passes for mental illness is pure meanness and a willing choice by the individual.
I wonder if conscience existed prior to the fall or if it is the direct result of eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Either way, it is not a reliable guide of right an wrong. As Strong said, it does not create Law, but merely advises of knowledge of a per-existent Law. It’s an interesting study.
It really is an interesting study! I have not considered this question before. I will spend some time on it. Thanks and God bless you!