Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday December 13, 2009

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The need for a good conscience

1 Peter 3:21-22

The fuel filter in your car may only cost $10/$20, but it protects carburetors/fuel injection systems that can be clogged up by the tiniest of particles that could mean $thousands in damage. A properly functioning fuel filter is very important.

Our passage mentions your conscience.  Think of your conscience as a fuel filter.  Your conscience acts as a filter, an internal judge that recommends what is good/approves you when you do good/warns you about what is bad/accuses you when you do bad.

What is a good conscience?  A good conscience is one that operates the way it should – it recommends/approves/warns/accuses.  When your conscience accused you when you do bad, that’s good.

1 Tim. 1:5 goal of instruction is a good conscience | 1 Tim. 1:19 keep a good conscience which, if rejected, will result in shipwreck |

1 Tim. 4:1-2 (seared = cauterize) rejected good conscience which gives way to demonic deception.  See here the relationship between supernatural evil/conscience.  Our passage speaks of Jesus struggling w/ a/a/p – so you.  One of the goals of a/a/p is to corrupt your conscience – to make it so it doesn’t operate the way it should: recommends evil/approves wickedness/doesn’t warn of sin/doesn’t accuse when you have done wrong.  The Bible speaks of an evil/defiled/seared conscience.  

A good conscience is of such importance that Peter makes a link between a good conscience and water baptism.  Acts 8:38  What prevents me from getting connected to Jesus and what He did for me?  The appeal of a good conscience unto God thru the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Philip had been telling him of the gospel and how the response to Jesus involves water baptism.  The good conscience of the Ethiopian eunuch wanted to conform in every way w/ the message Philip was preaching.  His conscience recommended water baptism. Baptism strengthens the conscience as it observes its own obedience/ submission to the word of God.  After his baptism his conscience would have approved him.  Jesus was approved after His baptism.  After baptisms we see the glow of joy/salvation/good conscience.

One of my goals is to strengthen your conscience, cf. 1T1:5.  This is because a/a/p will seek to defile/corrupt your conscience.  In so doing, they weaken your commitment to Jesus Christ.  

B4 I go any further: define a/a/p -

Angels: fallen angels/demons.  Angels (185 times) in NT - evil angels (10 times) - Mt. 25:41 – the devil and his angels/2 Cor. 12:7 an angel of Satan buffeted Paul/Rev. 12:7 the dragon & his angels

    * Like the serpent in the garden, they challenge God’s truth/plant seeds of doubt about His goodness/promote rebellion against God.  Their purpose is to deceive/destroy.  John 10:10a

Authorities: social structures led by those whose consciences have been defiled by fallen angels.  We know that duly established government acting w/ the authority of God can violate and misuse that authority and become an instrument of evil.  In Romans 13 it is the minister of God, while in Revelation 13 it has become the ally of the devil.  In Revelation 13 the state makes war against the saints.  

… social/political/ judicial/economic/religious structures can become demonic.1

    * Lk. 12:11 you’ll be brought b4 rulers/synagogues/authorities

Powers: controlling influences. 2 Th. 2:9 counterfeit miracles/ powers, whose purpose is to exercise a controlling influence over  people to keep them from Christ.  Balaam couldn’t stop Israel w/ the power of prophecy, but he could w/ the power of sex.  Powers: pleasure/fame/wealth/ philosophy/achievement/autonomy…

Jesus didn’t go into heaven until a/a/p had been subjected to Him.  An aspect of His earthly ministry was to, as a man, triumph over these spiritual entities.  As God, these have always been subject to Him.  But as a man, He had to gain the victory by living in the power/truth of God w/ a good conscience.

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Col. 2:15

Jesus’ death on the cross/resurrection put an end to any power they might have over Him.  Robertson, an imminent Greek authority, says that ‘disarm’ should be translated ‘throw off from oneself’.  Disarm gives the impression that the rulers/authorities are no longer a threat.  And they weren’t for Jesus – no longer would He be subject to the attempts of Satan/power of a demonic state/temptations to derail Him.  He has thrown them off, but we haven’t.    

B4 crucifixion, Jesus constantly hassled by a/a/p.  Death/res. put an end to this.  B4 your entry into heaven, you will be constantly hassled by a/a/p.  As a man, Jesus had to gain the victory by living in the power/truth of God.  He had to remain uncorrupted by these things.  This is the challenge 4u/me.  

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:12

Even as evil spiritual beings/unrighteous social structures/ temptations sought to derail/shut down Christ – so you.  A/a/p seek to pull un2 sin, drag un2 bondage, reason un2 compromise – wreck your conscience/ruin your witness.  A good conscience serves as a channel for the voice of the Holy Spirit – recommending/approving/ warning/accusing… The a/a/p desire to so damage your conscience that it no longer functions the way it should.  A good conscience is a heavy piece of armament in spiritual warfare.  Listen to Paul - 

For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. 2 Cor. 1:15

This is significant because 2 Corinthians is Paul’s defense of his ministry.  He has been attacked as being one who doesn’t care for the people and is arrogant/puffed up.  A good conscience is a strong conscience in that it can stand against lies/deceptions.  An approving conscience is a protection for your soul.

Let me show you how spiritual warfare in your conscience looks –  

Fran and I had an argument this last week.  I was firm in my insistence that I was right/my reasoning was sound.  But when I allowed my conscience 2b heard, it didn’t approve my behavior/ reason, instead it accused me.  According to my reasoning, I was right; according to my conscience, I stood accused.  An accusing conscience calls for repentance.  If you don’t repent, there is now a stronghold in your mind.  UR holding on to something you know 2b ungodly.  In order to silence your conscience, you have to ignore it.  An ignored conscience doesn’t operate as it should/makes you vulnerable to more sin/further compromise.  

If you refuse to repent, your conscience goes n2 overdrive – an accusing conscience becomes a condemning conscience.  To silence a condemning conscience, you have to do damage to it – like a mobster silencing key witness @ trial.  If a/a/p can sear/make you deaf to your conscience, they have won a major victory.  If the big guns can get knocked out, the way for the enemy to dominate just became clearer.  Today, the conscience of many followers of Jesus has been seared due to compromise - in the areas of sexual behavior/giving/entertainment & media/care for others…

What do I do?  2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  Your conscience isn’t your final judge, the Lord is.  Your conscience is 2b brought n2 line w/ the word of God.  

Peter: bearing up under unjust suffering is overcoming the a/a/p because you maintain a good conscience.  Their goal isn’t to make you suffer, but to corrupt your conscience.  If they don’t so this, they fail.  

A good conscience begins w/ a clean conscience…