PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT #1

A.    CHRIST'S WILL MUST BE PLACED ABOVE PERSONAL DESIRES

-Jesus is not our Lord if we will not do what he says.  (Lk. 6:46)

-We will know the truth if we have the will to do His will. (Jn. 7:17) 

-We are to deny self to follow Jesus.  (Lk. 9:23-26)  

-Choose ill treatment rather than pleasures for a season. (Heb. 11:25)

-We must love God rather than pleasure. (2Tim. 3:1-5)

-If we love Him we will keep his commandments. (Jn. 14:15, 21, 23, 24)     

-If we continue in His word we are His disciples and shall know the truth and be made free. (Jn. 8:31, 32, 34, 36)

-He that is of God hears God's words.  (Jn. 8:47; 1Jn. 4:6)

-We know that we are God's children by whether we keep His commandments.      (1Jo. 5:2, 3; 1:6; 2:3-6; 4:6)

B.    BEWARE OF BEING DECEIVED BY YOUR HEART.

-Lean not unto your own understanding. (Prov. 3:5, 6)

-The heart is deceitful. (Jer. 17:9)

-There is a way that seems right but ends in death. (Pr. 14:12; 16:25)

-He that trusts in his own heart is a fool. (Pr. 28:26; cf. 16:2, 3; 21:2)

C.    LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR GUIDANCE.

-Obey those over you for they watch in behalf of your soul.  (Heb. 13:17)

-Obey your parents. (Eph. 6:1; Col. 3:20; Pr. 13:1; 30:17)

-He that hearkens unto counsel is wise. (Prov. 12:15; 15:5)

-He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul. (Prov. 15:32 cf. Heb. 12:5-11; Pr. 29:1)

D.    BEWARE OF EVIL COMPANIONS AND INFLUENCES.

-Do not be deceived; evil communications (or evil companions) corrupt. (1Co. 15:33)

-If the blind guide the blind they both fall into the ditch. (Mt. 15:14)

-Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers. (2Cor. 6:14-7:1)

-A companion of fools shall be destroyed. (Pr. 13:20; 28:7)

-The righteous man's soul will be vexed by evil. (2Pe. 2:7, 8, 18)

-Blessed is the man that sitteth not in the seat of scornful. (Ps. 1:1) 

-Enter not the path of the wicked man.  (Prov. 4:14, 15; 12:11, 26)

-Go from the presence of a foolish man. (Prov. 14:7; 22:10, 24, 25; 23:6, 20; 28:7, 19; 29:24)

- Have no fellowship with the works of darkness.  (Eph. 5:6, 7, 11)

-A list of persons to turn away from. (2Tim. 3:1-5)

E.     KEEP YOUR EYES FROM EVIL.

-If your eye is filled with darkness the whole body will be also. (Lk. 11:34-36; Mt. 6:11)

-Lot vexed his soul in seeing evil. (2Pe. 2:7, 8)

-If your eye offends, pluck it out rather than going to hell. (Mk. 9:47)

-The first sin involved looking and desiring. (Gen. 3:6)

-Let your eyes look straight ahead, not turned to evil.  (Prov. 4:23-27)

-Do not look to lust. (Mt. 5:28-29)

-Make a covenant with your eyes (Job 31:1)

F.     CONTROL HEART AND MIND.

-Set your mind on things above.  (Col. 3:1-3)

-Think on good things. (Philip. 4:4-8)

-Beware of lust.  (Mt. 5:28-29)

-Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.  (1Pe. 2:11)

-Flee youthful lusts. (2Tim. 2:22; cf. 1Tim. 6:11)

-Flee fornication. (1Cor. 6:18)

-Flee Idolatry. With the temptation is a way of escape. (1Cor 10:13-14)

-Submit to God, and resist the devil and he will flee from you  (James 4:6-7)

G.    KEEP YOUR BODY IN SUBJECTION TO CHRIST.

-Present your bodies a living sacrifice.  (Rom. 12:1, 2)

-Bring body into subjection to Christ.  (1Co. 9:25-27 "Temperate")

-Glorify God in your body.  (1Co. 6:19, 20.  cf. 3:16, 17)

-Our obedience must be to righteousness--not sin.  (Rom. 6:6, 12, 13, 14, 16)

-We will not be under the power of anything.  (1Cor. 6:12)

-We must not undermine our will or distort judgment.  (Prov. 31:4, 5;  Is. 5:11, 33; Prov. 20:1; 23:29-32)

-Let your moderation be known. (Ph'p. 4:5; 2Pe. 1:5, 6)

H.    LAY ASIDE ALL HINDRANCES.

-Lay aside every weight and sin.  (Heb. 12:1)

-Don't be entangled in the things of this life.  (2Tim. 2:4)

-Avoid fleshly lusts that war against the soul.  (1Pe. 2:11)

-Make no provision for the flesh.  (Rom. 13:14)

-Cut of hand rather than go to Hell.  (Mk. 9:43-48; Mt. 5:30)

I.      OUR EXAMPLE MUST ENCOURAGE CHRISTIAN VALUES.

-Causing stumbling may end in hell. (Mt. 18:7, 8; Mk. 9:42-48)

-Do nothing (including food or wine) that causes stumbling.   (Ro. 14:13--15:3)

-Stumbling can make our liberty be sin. (1Cor. 8:9-12)

-In everything, whether food or drink, give no offense but glorify God.  (1Co. 10:23-33)

-We should glorify God in our bodies. (1Co. 6:19, 20)

-Behavior must be seemly so God will be glorified. (1Pe. 2:12)

-Abstain from all appearance of evil.  (1Thes. 5:22)

J.     WE ARE WARNED AGAINST BEING CONFORMED TO THE WORLD.

-We must not be conformed to this world. (Rom. 12:1, 2)

-We are going a narrow way with the minority. (Mt. 7:13, 14)

-Do not love the world's lust of eyes, flesh & pride.(1Jn. 2:15-17)

-Following the pattern of the world makes us children of wrath. (Eph 2:1-3)

-Come out and be different. (2Co. 6:17--7:1)

-Be unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

-Hate even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 23)

-Uproot anything that chokes the word. (Lk. 8:14)

-They think it strange that we do not do like them. (1Pe. 4:4)

-Reveling, and such like, are of the flesh. (Gal. 5:19-21)

(Note: PLAIN ENGLISH TRANSLATION says, "disorderly dancing")

K.    WE MUST BE ABLE TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

(When Jesus comes would he be pleased to find you doing it?)

-Whatever you do must be in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Col. 3:17)

-Grieve not the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 4:30; 1Co. 6:19, 20)

L.    OUR CONDUCT MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH LOVE FOR OTHERS

-Love does not behave itself unseemly  (1Cor. 13:4-7)

-Love will not put personal liberty above the welfare of a brother (1Cor. 8; Rom. 15:1, 2)