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CHRIST

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Acts 24:15-16 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be

a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the

unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a

conscience without offense toward God and men.

THE ABUNDANT LIFE - A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

THE CONSCIENCEA. The pirate Gibbs, B. Abraham Lincoln C. I would change Lincoln’s statement to: “I desire

to so live, that if at the end of this life on earth I have lost every other friend, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend will be the Lord Jesus Christ.”

D. 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

I. WE HAVE REASON TO HAVE A GUILTY CONSCIENCE - SIN

A. Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B. 1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

II. WE CAN HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

A. WE SHOULD DESIRE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE - Rom 13:5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.

B. WE CAN KNOW OUR CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR1. Heb 13:18 Pray for us; for we are confident

that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably

2. 2 Tim 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,

II. WE CAN HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

C. GOD GAVE US DIRECTION TO HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE - 1 Tim 1:5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

D. IT MAY TAKE SUFFERING - 1 Pet 2:19-21 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

II. WE CAN HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

E. SOME REJECT HAVING A CLEAR CONSCIENCE - 1 Tim 1:19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

Ill. OUR CONSCIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS A SAFE GUIDE

A. OUR CONSCIENCE CAN BE SEARED OR CALLOUSED - 1 Tim 4:2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

B. OUR CONSCIENCE CAN BE DEFILED - Titus 1:15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

C. PAUL’S CONSCIENCE WAS CLEAR WHEN HE WAS PERSECUTING THE CHURCH - Acts 23:1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."

Ill. OUR CONSCIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS A SAFE GUIDE

D. OUR CONSCIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT - 1 John 3:18-22 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

IV. WE SHOULD NEVER TO VIOLATE OUR CONSCIENCE

1 Cor 8 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. >>>

IV. WE SHOULD NEVER TO VIOLATE OUR CONSCIENCE

But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

V. WE SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO THE CONSCIENCE OF OTHERS

A. WE CAN CAUSE THEM TO STUMBLE - (I Cor 8:9-13) But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. {10} For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? {11} And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? {12} But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. {13} Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

V. WE SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO THE CONSCIENCE OF OTHERS

B. WE SHOULD NOT OFFEND THE CONSCIENCE OF OTHERS - (1 Cor 10:28-33) But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness." {29} "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience? {30} But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? {31} Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. {32} Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, {33} just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

V. WE SHOULD BE SENSITIVE TO THE CONSCIENCE OF OTHERS

C. WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CONSCIENCE - (2 Cor 4:1-2) Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. {2} But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

VI. OUR CONSCIENCE CAN BE PURIFIED AFTER BEING DEFILED

A. Heb 9:11-14 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

B. Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

VI. OUR CONSCIENCE CAN BE PURIFIED AFTER BEING DEFILED

C. Rom 7:21-8:2 1 find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

IS YOUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR?A. 1 Peter 3:15-17 But sanctify the Lord God in your

hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

B. 1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

C. WE CAN’T HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE WITHOUT HAVING A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

HAVE A CONCIENTIOUS WEEK