PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT #2

 

I.      LIMITS OF LIBERTY

 

John 8:32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

 

Rom 14:5. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day  alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

 

Gal 5:1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

 

CAUTION!

 

Gal 5:13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

1Cor 6:12. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 

1Cor 10:23. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 

 

1Pet 2:16. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of malicious­ness, but as the servants of God.

 

1Cor 8:9. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

 

II.   THE EFFECT OF CONDUCT UPON SELF

 

A.      OUR BODY

Does it make for purity?

 

I Tim 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

 

1 Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

Will it defile the body?

 

1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  

 

2 Cor 7:1. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

Rom 12:1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

Is it habit-forming?

 

1 Cor 6:12. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 

John 8:34. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whoso­ever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

 

Is it victory or surrender?

 

Rom 6:13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteous­ness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteous­ness unto God.   

 

1 Cor 15:57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lo Jesus Christ.

 

Rom 8:37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

 

B.      OUR SOUL

 

Will it purify or war against our soul?

 

1 Pet 2:11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 

 

1 Pet 1:22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

 

C.      OUR MIND AND CONSCIENCE

 

Does it edify?

 

1 Cor 14:26. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

 

1 Cor 10:23. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

 

Does it defile the mind?

 

Tit 1:15. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

 

Phil 4:8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

Is It doubtful?

 

Rom 14:23. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

 

Do you feel self-condemned by it?

 

Rom. 14:22. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

 

1 John 3:20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. KJV

 

D.      OUR STEWARDSHIP

 

Is it a wise use of our time?

 

Eph 5:16. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

Col 4:5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.  

 

Is it the right use of money?

 

        1 Cor 4:2. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 

 

Is it a right use of talents?

 

Matt 13:22. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitful­ness of riches choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

 

Is it a faithful discharge of responsibility?

 

Tit 3:8. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profit­able unto men.

 

I2.   THE EFFECT OF CONDUCT UPON OTHERS

 

  Rom 14:7. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

 

A.      HOW DOES IT LOOK TO OTHERS?

 

Does it adorn the doctrine you profess?

 

Titus 2:10. Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. 

 

Eph 4:1. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

 

Phil 1:27. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

 

Does it make you a good example?

 

1 Tim 4:12. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

Tit 2:7. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

 

1 Thes 1:7. so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. (ASV)

 

Is it wise in the sight of non-Christians?

 

Col 4:5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

 

2 Cor 8:21. Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

 

1 Tim 3:7. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

 

Is it wrong in the sight of others?

 

Rom 14:16. Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

 

Phil 2:15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

 

B.      ITS ACTUAL EFFECT ON OTHERS

 

Will it please and help your neighbor?

 

Rom 15:2. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

 

1 Cor 10:24. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

 

Heb 10:24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

 

Is it offensive to others?

 

1 Cor 10:32. Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gen­tiles, nor to the church of God:

 

2 Cor 6:3. Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

 

Acts 24:16. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a con­science void of offense toward God, and toward men.

 

Is it a stumbling block?

 

Rom 14:21. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

 

Rom 14:13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

 

C.      ITS BEARING ON YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Does it honor your parents?

 

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

 

Does it honor your church?

 

1 Pet 5:5. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (NIV)

 

Heb 13:17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit your­selves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

 

Does it honor your government?

 

1 Pet 2:13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

 

Tit 3:1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

 

Is it an unequal yoke?

 

2 Cor 6:14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

 

Eph 5:11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dark­ness, but rather reprove them. 

 

D.      ITS RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR 3 GREAT ENEMIES--WORLD, FLESH AND DEVIL

 

Does it indicate friendship with the world?

 

James 4:4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

Rom 12:2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

Is it providing for the flesh?

 

Rom 13:14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. 

 

Is it a possible yielding to the Devil?

 

James 4:7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

1 Pet 5:9. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

 

1 Cor 10:20. But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

 

 

IV.   THE EFFECT OF YOUR CONDUCT UPON GOD

 

A.      CAN IT BE DONE AS UNTO THE LORD?

 

Col 3:23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

 

Eph 5:22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

 

2 Cor 8:21. Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

 

B.      CAN IT BE DONE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD?

 

Col 3:17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

1 Tim 6:1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

 

C.      CAN IT BE DONE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD?

 

1 Cor 10:31. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

 

1 Cor 6:20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

D.      IS IT WORTHY OF GOD AND HIS KINGDOM?

 

1 Thes 2:12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

 

Col 1:10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 

2 Thes 1:5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

 

THE MOTIVATION FOR RESPECTING THESE PRINCIPLES

 

                   God desires our greatest good!

 

I.      REWARDS

 

Psalms 19:11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

 

Prov 22:4. By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.

 

Num 14:24. But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

 

Gen 22:18. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

 

Gen 26:5. Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

 

Ps 119:2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

 

Ps 119:100. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy pre­cepts.

 

Ps 119:165. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.  

 

Prov 3:1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my command­ments:

 

Prov 3:2. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

 

Joshua 1:8. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do ac­cording to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 

 

1 John 2:3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his command­ments.

 

Acts 5:32. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

 

II.    PROSPERITY

 

Deut 29:9. Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.

 

Deut 8:18. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that  giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

 

Joshua 1:7. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest ob­serve to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou gayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 

 

Psalms 1:3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

 

1 King 2:3. And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

 

2 King 8:6. And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.

 

2 King 8:7. And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-ha'dad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.

 

III.   ANSWERED PRAYERS

 

 John 15:7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto

 

1 John 3:21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

 

1 John 3:22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

Heb 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.