Mark 8:34-38Mark 8:34-382 Peter 1:52 Peter 1:5

Moral CourageMoral Courage

Moral Courage• 2 Peter 1:5 (virtue): “Moral excellence”

(courage) to stand for what is right against all opposition and every adversity

• Blessed by God, Matt 5:10-12– Invaluable to faith: Without moral courage

faith will weaken, falter and fail– Courageous raised to glory, Rev 6:9-11; 20:4

• Spiritual backbone, 1 Cor 16:13

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Moral Cowardice

• PILATE: Failed to use his authority to exercise justice1) MORAL COWARDICE KNOWS THE

RIGHT THING TO DO BUT DOES NOT DO IT, Luke 23:4, 14-15, 22, 20

• EVIL PREVAILS! Lk 23:23-25 (Jas 4:17)

2) MORAL COWARDICE TRIES TO JUSTIFY ITSELF BEFORE ITS PEERS, Matt 27:24

• GOD IS NOT CONVINCED!

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Moral Cowardice

• PETER: Knew the truth but failed to acknowledge (confess) it1) MORAL COWARDICE VALUES

PERSONAL SAFETY OVER THE TRUTH, Matt 26:69-75

• Selfish fear leads to lying

2) MORAL COWARDICE FEARS THE CONSEQUENCES OF STANDING FOR THE TRUTH, Gal 2:11-14 (Jno 12:42-43)

• Afraid of unfavorable reactions• Wrong priorities (Matt 10:28)

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Moral Courage

• PAUL: A man who publicly resisted public sin, Gal 2:11, 141) MORAL COURAGE IS PUBLIC

ABOUT ITS FAITH• Takes a public stand when the

truth is publicly violated (sin)• Outnumbered but did not retreat• Truth and souls were at stake• GOAL: Gospel will prevail so souls

can be saved, Gal 2:3-5 5

Moral Courage

• DANIEL AND COMPANIONS: Commitment to the true God1) MORAL COURAGE REQUIRES

PURPOSE AND PURITY OF HEART, Dan 1:8

2) MORAL COURAGE TRUSTS IN GOD, Dan 3:16-18

• Confident of deliverance, 3:17 (24-27)

• Trust in and serve God only, 3:183) MORAL COURAGE WILL NOT

COMPROMISE WITH SIN, Dan 6:7-10, 23 (Acts 5:29) 6

We Need Moral Courage

• Christians with the courage to suffer isolation because of their moral purity, 1 Pet 4:3-5 (1 Tim 4:12; 2 Tim 2:22)1) CHRISTIANS ARE TEMPTED TO

CONFORM TO THE WORLD • Distinct morality is a great

example, 1 Pet 2:11-12• May be rejected/opposed, 1 Pet

4:4• Keep your moral courage and you

will be blessed by God 7

We Need Moral Courage

• Preachers, with the courage to preach the truth that needs to be heard, 2 Tim 4:1-51) NOT SILENCE FOR THE SAKE OF

“PEACE” (SO CALLED), OR FOR RELATIONSHIPS OR BEING ”CAST OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE”

2) PREACH TO THE NEED OF THE MOMENT, Acts 2:23, 36; 24:25 (2 Tim 4:2)

• PURPOSE: To save souls, Acts 4:17-20 8

We Need Moral Courage

• To confess Jesus Christ in our lives without shame, Mark 8:381) TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN, Acts 2:37-412) TO LIVE FAITHFULLY, 2 Cor 5:73) TO TEACH THE GOSPEL, Rom 1:15-164) TO BE A GODLY EXAMPLE, Matt 5:13-16

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“add to your faith, virtue”

(2 Peter 1:5)

“add to your faith, virtue”

(2 Peter 1:5)