Eugene International Church of Christ

The Pledge of A Good Conscience

Introduction

• Next week - Omar and Salina Valdivinos will be in town. (Helping to plant the church in Phoenix - starting the Latin ministry there.)
• This week - Stephen Holladay here visiting from Portland.
• Toy Drive Today - Amen.
• Christmas eve service is going to be a Special service - a “Pot-Luck” brunch, Saturday December 24th 11:00AM, at the Ciaramella’s home. (Instead of having service on Sunday we are going to have it Saturday - same thing with New Years Eve)
• New Years Eve - 7:00PM - Saturday Communion service and Dinner to follow along with a New Years Party.

Last week - we talked about “Walking With The Hallowed Father…”

Point#1: The Battle For Your Soul
I Peter 2
11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

• True disciples of Jesus are Aliens and strangers in the World here because we belong to our hallowed Father. (e.g. Like Will Ferral in the movie ‘ELF’ - he thought different, he did not fit in.)
• Sinful desires - they war against our soul…to get us to compromise and then rationalize.
• Cowardice and fear cloud our minds and our hearts from the obvious nature of compromise. (e.g. Like paint, only takes a little black to turn a whole blob of white gray, the reason it is gray is because there is some evil in it.)
• Purity, Commitment to God, commitment to the body of believers, even having deep conviction on what it takes to be a disciple and to be right with God. Fear of what someone may think if we open up, fear of consequences if we are honest, or if we hold firmly to the bible in all our relationships.
• Usually, we call someone a coward who will not go to battle. They abandon their responsibility, their post when they should go down fighting. Who is every inspired by cowardice? Who is inspired by someone who gave their life fighting for what is right?
• So - are you willing to God to battle against those sinful desires waging war against your soul? How about helping others with their battle? Is FEAR ruling you or is GOD?
• Are you even aware of that battle? Do you even know what sin is? Do you confess sin?
• Do you go to battle? And today we’ll talk about how! Because this is about going after ETERNAL Victory - in the battle for your very soul!

(Turn to John 3:19-21)

(e.g. The most looked up word on Websters on-line dictionary is? Integrity. (Of the 7,000,000 users this past year - over 200,000 of them looked up the definition of ‘Integrity’) (see related cnn article here)

Integrity

1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. (For a disciple: BIBLE)
2. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness. (Wholeheartedly devoted to God and His People here in Eugene)
   If you love God and like him love people, you’ll have integrity. (In Family - wrote to brother)

John 3:19-21
19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”[h]

• Fear of exposure. Interesting to me, that the reason we HATE is because of FEAR.
• Fear of confrontation is the absence of LOVING the TRUTH.
• Truth without grace - that’s judgment.
• When you walk into the light though, all those sinful desires get exposed…and yet it is to GOD’s glory - how?

I John 1:5-10
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

• Very simple - confessing it. Do you confess sin with the intent to repent? James 5:16
• Do you have that relationship in your life? Do you have that kind of Christian depth in your life? Ephesians 4:15 says we protect each other from being tossed around in our faith by speaking the truth in Love. (”15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”)
• Confused and lost in the gray areas of our gray matter forgetting what really matters is that eternal victory.
• Hard things to be open about - Internet Pornography/Masturbation. Marriage fights. Mistrust. Resentments. Job performance, heart sins of pride and arrogance. Our relationships…and their dynamics.
• Cowardice is the architect of denial - but love and truth illuminate grace. (e.g. Campus ministry, sharing one thing they learned over the semester - honest and vulnerable sharing…and clarity - repentance brings refreshment!)

Confessing sin with the intent to repent is the first step in winning that battle for your soul.

I Peter 2:13-17
13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

• This is why we should observe the speed limit(s) and make sure we pay our taxes (even on our tips and contracted income).
• An impeccable example of integrity silences critics.
• Live as servants of GOD. Wow - servants of GOD. Show proper respect to everyone.
• Bush is our president - not or king - you may say. There is a principle here of respect. If you call our president an idiot - how is that honoring? How is insulting any leader respect?
• If you don’t agree with Bush, don’t vote for the man and feel free to disagree with him. You can disagree and not dishonor. It is not holy for a disciple of Jesus to bash leadership.
• Love the brotherhood of believers. (Dictates who you spend your time with, and who you give your heart to.)

There is a galactic difference between FEAR of GOD and FEAR of PEOPLE. On one hand, there is holiness and reverence, and on the other - cowardice, selfish-ambition, and even hatred.

Those who FEAR GOD have NOTHING to FEAR when it comes to eternity. If you truly fear God, you will indeed strive for that eternal victory.

Point #2: The Attitude Of Christ

I Peter 2:18-21
18Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
This says a lot about integrity. What is our integrity like at work? Are we hard working only when our boss is good and considerate? Do we join in the negative talk at work?
This is intense, even if our boss is harsh, while we work there - we are supposed to endure it with the attitude of Christ…which is (Keep Reading)
I Peter 2:22-25
22″He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e] 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

• There is such a focus here that we are to have on Jesus Christ. The heart to imitate him.
• (Clarify - if your boss is harsh, consider looking for another job. If your boss insists on making you work during meetings of the body - look for another job.)
• (Story: Bay area start-up - programmer’s logs, focus, discipline, integrity, but Godless - so I had to quit)
• Why did Jesus die on the cross? So that we might DIE to SINS and LIVE for righteousness! What do you live for? Really? What do you invest your energy in? (Shows by what you do, not what you say)
• Real estate? Stocks? Self?

What sins have you DIED to lately? What sins have you battled against and through GOD, defeated?

Lift up Kevin - battled a lot in his character. Amazing to see the changes in Holly. Amazing to see Jacob graduate from the Chemical Recovery ministry. Amazing to see Jesus battling it out, the brother is just different - and so are his kids. Paula - battled sin, overcame - and was super inspired)

Why does he say, “By his wounds you have been healed…”?

• Reminding them of the cross. Remind myself about the cross. It is about Jesus - this is why we die to sins, and battle for righteousness - the cross.
• Remember where you were going before you sat down and really studied the bible out? Like sheep going astray.
• Here is the interesting fact - everyone starts off as a sheep wandering astray.
• Dustin - very religious young man. Very sincere. And to the best of this knowledge, he was doing right by God. Studied the bible - with intent to obey.
• What is your intent when you hear the WORD of GOD preached? Is it obedience? How do you feel when people in your life who love God actually expect you and everyone around them to obey the bible, and not just academically or theologically “study the bible?”
• If you do not sit down and study the bible with intent to obey (in your relationships in the church) or as a newcomer studying out the bible - you are going to miss the cross! The truth is going to go down the drain. Because it is for the sake of the wounds he bore, the wounds that heal us, that we live for righteousness.
• The cross - was stripped in my life of it’s power - because there was at one time not the intent to obey.
• The cross - the most powerful motivation and the most powerful moment in all eternity.
• The cross - should affect your attitude every day. (Does it?)

Point #3 Live In Harmony

The Holy Spirit here is about to use our brother, the apostle Peter, to get very practical…

Living in harmony starts at home, with God, Mom and Dad.

I Peter 3:1-7
1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

• Would your behavior win over your husband? (Taking a spouse who is a disciple for granted.)
• This is the hope for a man or woman married to someone who is not interested in becoming a disciple. This is the power of an uncompromising example.
• Purity and reverence…wow. (Shopping for the next best fashion accessory or the next best thing…is not purity of heart. It is about what you need before God, not about what you want.)
• One of the most convicting things is when my wife gives me respect and honor, and is submissive, even when I don’t deserve it. That sort of humility and godliness - really convicts a man. I deeply appreciate that about my wife.
• It is true that a man treated with this level of respect may take it for granted…which is why we have the next verse…

I Peter 3:7
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

• If you don’t love your wife the way Jesus loved the church - your prayers will be hindered. The brother who is not considerate and respectful of his wife, God will hinder their prayers.
• Picture it - if a man is not loving his wife by being respectful and considerate - how is she going to feel when they pray together? ASSUMING that you, disciples of Jesus, PRAY with each other as married couples? (Do you see that the Holy Spirit here just assumes that you are going to pray together…the “your” is implicative of both man and wife…)
• Hard to have a heartfelt and sincere prayer when, as men, we know we are not showing our wives the love God commands us to show them.
• When there IS that love, the prayers are POWERFUL. They change the family and make it Godly. Prayers like that have impact - people become disciples because of that kind of family.

I Peter 3:8-22
8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

• This verse tells us how to live in harmony: Are you sympathetic? (With people’s weaknesses and felt needs? Do you want to know these things?) Compassionate? Humble? ( Be led, listen)
• “Fight fire with fire” the world says. This person hurt me in the past, so I need to hurt them in the present. Evil with evil. It’s payback time! We can treat our spouses this way. We can treat the brotherhood this way. God says, BLESS.
• If you fight fire with fire, then the flames will only get higher. In then end, that is the broad and miserable road that ends in hell.

This is how we inherit that blessing - eternally…
10For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a]

• Wow - if this is our heart - GOD is attentive to our prayer.

I Peter 3:13-22
13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear[b]; do not be frightened.”[c] 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom[d] also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge[e] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

• This is an interesting verse! Only a few it says! Saved when - the flood.
• What is he admonishing them? To keep their consciences clear! A clear conscience toward God helps us have true harmony - with him and with each other!
• Strive to have a clear conscience - verses rationalizing and searing it.

The Pledge of A Good Conscience:

• Point#1: The Battle For Your Soul
• Point#2: The Attitude Of Christ
• Point#3: Live In Harmony