Our conscience is what convicts us. It is the compus in our body by which we make decisions through and in the conscience is where the emotions are stored. Our decisions and cognitive reasoning come from the conscience and it filters via the moral compus. So, when we do something bad our conscience sends a negative feeling that will hunt a person, and it also sends a positive message concluding it clear (Ro2:15,) Paul found himself before a counsel in defense of his conscience testifying of having no feeling of guilt (Act23:1) setting an example of the possibility that anyone can have a clear conscience. His defense before the counsel was not of his own but of his conscience, because it serves a testimony to others of word or action (2Cor1:12). Neglecting to paying attention to the conscience puts to jeopardy faith and make it stranded or shipwrecked and flattened as with a hot iron (1Tim1:19, 1Tim4:2). Our conscience can be healthy or suffering illness.
John 8:7-11
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
This women was apparently apprehended in the very act of adultery and brought to Jesus for judgment; but was really to tempt Christ. Now, those who were the eldest left first once the conscience began to accuse them and then followed the younger. The conscience of those that heard of Christ was pricked, because it is what the word of God does; it either convicts or affirms our conscience (Heb4:12). During the time of the law worshipers would have their conscience purged through their sacrifices (Heb10:2). In order for our conscience now to be purged; and purged from dead works, the blood of Christ needs to be active (Heb9:14). Our conscience can be contaminated with dead works and not that of faith works.