WHEN DOES YOUR CONSCIENCE CEASE TO BE YOUR GUIDE?

WHEN DOES WHEN DOES YOUR YOUR

CONSCIENCE CONSCIENCE CEASE TO BE CEASE TO BE YOUR GUIDE?YOUR GUIDE?

I John 3:11-12I John 3:11-12

This is the message you heard from the This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.were evil and his brother’s were righteous.

I John 3:13-15I John 3:13-15

Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. has eternal life in him.

I John 3:16-17I John 3:16-17

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? can the love of God be in him?

I John 3:18-20I John 3:18-20

Dear children, let us not love with words or Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.he knows everything.

I John 3:21-22I John 3:21-22

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.his commands and do what pleases him.

When is the time to let your When is the time to let your conscience be your guide & when conscience be your guide & when

should it not be your guide?should it not be your guide?

I. When Should Your Conscience Be I. When Should Your Conscience Be Your Guide?Your Guide?

A. When it reminds you to do A. When it reminds you to do God’sGod’s willwill..

I. When Should Your Conscience Be Your Guide? I. When Should Your Conscience Be Your Guide?


I Timothy 1:5 - The goal of this command is I Timothy 1:5 - The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and love, which comes from a pure heart and a a good consciencegood conscience and a sincere faith. and a sincere faith.



I Timothy 1:5 - The goal of this command is I Timothy 1:5 - The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and love, which comes from a pure heart and a a good consciencegood conscience and a sincere faith. and a sincere faith.

I Timothy 3:9 - They must keep hold of the I Timothy 3:9 - They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with deep truths of the faith with a clear a clear conscienceconscience..


B. When it produces B. When it produces sorrowsorrow for your for your sin.sin.

II Corinthians 7:9 - Now I am glad I sent it, not II Corinthians 7:9 - Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain because it hurt you, but because the pain turned you to God. It was a good kind of turned you to God. It was a good kind of sorrowsorrow God wants His people to have . . . God wants His people to have . . .

(The Living Bible)(The Living Bible)



II. When Should Your Conscience II. When Should Your Conscience Not Be Your Guide?Not Be Your Guide?

A. When you rely on A. When you rely on conscienceconscience alonealone to determine your relation- to determine your relation-ship with God.ship with God.

II. II. When Should Your Conscience Not Be Your Guide?When Should Your Conscience Not Be Your Guide?

From the New International Version

Dear children, let us not love Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God have confidence before God and receive from him anything and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases commands and do what pleases him. - v18-22him. - v18-22


From the New International Version

From Pastor Steve

Dear children, let us not love Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn whenever our hearts condemn usus. For . For God is greater than our God is greater than our heartshearts, and he knows , and he knows everything. Dear friends, everything. Dear friends, if our if our hearts do not condemn us, we hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God have confidence before God and receive from him anything and receive from him anything we askwe ask, because we obey his , because we obey his commands and do what pleases commands and do what pleases him. - v18-22him. - v18-22

Express love not just by words, Express love not just by words, but by actions & sincerity; for but by actions & sincerity; for then we will know that we are of then we will know that we are of the truth & can have our the truth & can have our confidence before Him confidence before Him even even when our conscience gives us when our conscience gives us doubtsdoubts; for ; for God overrules our God overrules our conscienceconscience because He knows because He knows everything. Now loved ones, everything. Now loved ones, if if our conscience is clear we can our conscience is clear we can have confidence before God have confidence before God when we praywhen we pray. We will get the . We will get the ready answers because we obey ready answers because we obey His commands & do the things His commands & do the things which please Him. - v18-22which please Him. - v18-22



1. Some of us allow our emotions 1. Some of us allow our emotions to rule us!to rule us!



a. There’s a lot here to make a. There’s a lot here to make usus

feel unworthy!feel unworthy!No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No

one who continues to sin has either seen one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. - v6him or known him. - v6




feel unworthy!feel unworthy!He who does what is sinful is of the devil. - v8He who does what is sinful is of the devil. - v8




feel unworthy!feel unworthy!No one who is born of God will continue to sin.No one who is born of God will continue to sin.

- v9- v9




feel unworthy!feel unworthy!Romans 3:23 - . . . for all have sinned and fall Romans 3:23 - . . . for all have sinned and fall

short of the glory of God.short of the glory of God.



b. The verbs here are in the b. The verbs here are in the present tensepresent tense - so it’s the - so it’s the sin habitsin habit, the , the sin orienta-sin orienta-tiontion, the , the sin lifestylesin lifestyle, the , the

re-re- bellious attitudebellious attitude..



2. Your conscience is like a 2. Your conscience is like a computer - it puts out what you computer - it puts out what you program into it!program into it!


B. When you believe you must B. When you believe you must dodo goodgood thingsthings for the Lord to for the Lord to accept you.accept you.


1. The righteous lifestyle comes 1. The righteous lifestyle comes as a as a resultresult of being God’s child. of being God’s child.

Ephesians 2:8-10 - For it is by grace you have Ephesians 2:8-10 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. not by works, so that no one can boast. For For we are God’s workmanship, created we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good worksin Christ Jesus to do good works, which , which God prepared in advance for us to do.God prepared in advance for us to do.


2. The Holy Spirit gives you the 2. The Holy Spirit gives you the power to live the Christian life power to live the Christian life after you become His child!after you become His child!



II. When Should Your Conscience II. When Should Your Conscience Not Be Your Guide?Not Be Your Guide?

III. How Can You Know the III. How Can You Know the Difference?Difference?

A. When A. When lovelove becomes the main becomes the main expression of your life.expression of your life.

We know that we have passed from death to We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brotherslife, because we love our brothers. Anyone . Anyone who does not love remains in death. . . - v14who does not love remains in death. . . - v14

II. II. How Can You Know the Difference?How Can You Know the Difference?


1. Love’s 1. Love’s ExampleExample - the cross. - the cross.This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid

down his life for usdown his life for us. And we ought to lay down . And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? - v16-17in him? - v16-17



1. Love’s 1. Love’s ExampleExample - the cross. - the cross.This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid

down his life for usdown his life for us. And we ought to lay down . And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? - v16-17in him? - v16-17

John 10:11 - The good shepherd lays down his life John 10:11 - The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.for the sheep.


A. When A. When lovelove becomes the main becomes the main expression of your life.expression of your life.1. Love’s 1. Love’s ExampleExample - the cross. - the cross.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for usdown his life for us. And we ought to lay down . And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? - v16-17in him? - v16-17

John 3:16 - For John 3:16 - For GodGod so loved the world that he so loved the world that he gave gave his one and only Sonhis one and only Son, that whoever believes in , that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. him shall not perish but have eternal life.



2. Love’s 2. Love’s ExpressionExpression..This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid

down his life for us. And we ought to lay down down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in himin him? - v16-17? - v16-17



3. The 3. The ResultResult..We know that we have passed from death to We know that we have passed from death to

life, because we love our brotherslife, because we love our brothers. Anyone . Anyone who does not love remains in death. - v14who does not love remains in death. - v14


B. But - the absence of love is B. But - the absence of love is hatehate!!



1. There’s no 1. There’s no middlemiddle groundground in in I John!I John!

We know that we have passed from death to We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. - v14-15has eternal life in him. - v14-15




We know that we have passed from death to We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who who does not lovedoes not love remains in deathremains in death.. Anyone who Anyone who hateshates his brother is a his brother is a murderer, and you know that murderer, and you know that no murderer no murderer has eternal lifehas eternal life in him. - v14 in him. - v14




The attitude of your heartThe attitude of your heart

is the same as the crime!is the same as the crime!Matthew 5:21-28Matthew 5:21-28



2. The example of Cain.2. The example of Cain. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil

one and murdered his brother. And why did one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. - were evil and his brother’s were righteous. - v12v12




one and murdered his brother. And why did one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. - were evil and his brother’s were righteous. - v12v12

Hebrews 11:4 - Hebrews 11:4 - By faith Abel offered God a By faith Abel offered God a better sacrificebetter sacrifice than Cain did. By faith than Cain did. By faith he he was commended as a righteous manwas commended as a righteous man, when , when God spoke well of his offerings.God spoke well of his offerings.



2. The example of Cain.2. The example of Cain. Do not be like Do not be like CainCain, who belonged to the evil , who belonged to the evil

one and murdered his brother. And why did one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because he murder him? Because his own actions his own actions were evilwere evil and his and his brother’s were righteousbrother’s were righteous. - . - v12v12




one and one and murdered his brothermurdered his brother. And why did . And why did he murder him? Because his own actions he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. - were evil and his brother’s were righteous. - v12v12



3. This is why the world hates 3. This is why the world hates Christians.Christians.

Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. - v13hates you. - v13





John 3:20 - John 3:20 - Everyone who does evilEveryone who does evil hates the hates the light, and light, and will not come into the lightwill not come into the light for fear for fear that that his deeds will be exposedhis deeds will be exposed..





John 3:20 - John 3:20 - Everyone who does evilEveryone who does evil hates the hates the light, and light, and will not come into the lightwill not come into the light for fear for fear that that his deeds will be exposedhis deeds will be exposed..

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s workmanship, Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good workscreated in Christ Jesus to do good works . . . . . .



4. How is this hate expressed?4. How is this hate expressed? If anyone has material possessions and sees If anyone has material possessions and sees

his brother in need but has no pity on him, his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? - v17how can the love of God be in him? - v17



5. What does lack of love do to 5. What does lack of love do to your faith?your faith?

James 2:14-16 - James 2:14-16 - What good is it, my brothers, if What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save himdeeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose ? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, does nothing about his physical needs, what good is itwhat good is it??


If your conscience accuses youIf your conscience accuses you

even when you are expressing loveeven when you are expressing love

God says you are righteous!God says you are righteous!

Confess your doubt of God’s graceConfess your doubt of God’s grace

and clear up that conscience!and clear up that conscience!

Documents

WHEN DOES YOUR CONSCIENCE CEASE TO BE YOUR GUIDE?