The Webster Bible Church Podcast

The Neglected Conscience - Part 4a: How Should I Relate To Fellow Christians Whose Consciences Disagree With Mine?

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

Transformative Truth:
Since the Lord welcomes us, we should welcome one another.

 

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
- Romans 15:7

How should I relate to fellow Christians whose consciences disagree with mine?

The Problem

Feel as I feel, think only as I think;
Eat what I eat, drink what I drink,
Look as I look, do always as I do,
Then and only then will I fellowship with you.

The Prescription

To the strong:

1. Welcome your weaker brother (v. 1).

2. Do not despise him (vv. 3a, 10b)

To the weak:

Stop passing judgment (vv. 3b, 4a, 10a)

Should a man not lay his hand upon his mouth before he criticizes his brethren? When we pass swift, uninformed, unloving and ungenerous judgments, surely we have forgotten that if we speak evil of them, at the same time we speak evil of the Lord whose name they bear.

The Principles

1. God welcomes all believers (v. 3)

2. The Lord upholds every believer (v. 4)

3. The Lord is sovereign over every believer (vv. 5-9)

“To deny the lordship of Jesus Christ in the life of any believer is to subvert the full work, power, and purpose of His crucifixion and resurrection.”

4. The Lord alone will judge each believer (vv. 10-12).

 

The Neglected Conscience - Part 3: How Do I Get My Conscience To Function Properly?

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Transformative Truth:
For the conscience to function properly, it must be calibrated to Scripture.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 
- Hebrews 10:22

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
- 1 Peter 3:21-22

For the conscience to function properly, it must be calibrated to Scripture.

The Calibration of the Conscience

Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other – my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their power of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
- Hebrews 5:14

1. Education
2. Application

The Conditions of the Conscience

1. Those who have a guilty conscience and know it.
2. Those who have a guilty conscience and don’t know it.
3. Those who have a purified conscience and know it.
4. Those who have a purified conscience and don’t know it.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our hearts before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
- 1 John 3:20

The Cross and the Conscience

The Neglected Conscience - Part 2: How Do I Deal With A Guilty Conscience?

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-21, Hebrews 9:14, 1 Peter 3:21-22

Transformative Truth:
Guilt and shame lose their power at the cross of Christ.

 

The conscience is your awareness of what you believe is right and wrong.

Modern-Day Fig Leaves (Self-Atoning, Self-Protective Measures)

• The blame game

• Perfectionism and overachievement

• Busyness and distractions

• Religious duties and good works

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring [seed] and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
- Genesis 3:15

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
- Hebrews 9:14

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
- 1 Peter 3:21-22

Guilt and shame lose their power at the cross of Christ.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness...
-Isaiah 61:10

The Neglected Conscience - Part 1: What Is The Conscience?

Scripture Text: various

Transformative Truth:
Thank God for the precious gift of conscience!

“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
- 1 Timothy 1:5

“I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.”
- Acts 24:16

THE NEGLECTED CONSCIENCE
Part One: What Is the Conscience?

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them [tell them they are doing right].
- Romans 2:15 CSB

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
- Titus 1:15 ESV

The conscience is your awareness
of what you believe is right and wrong.

The Call To Reclaim Our Responsibility - James 1:26-2:13

Bearing Gospel Fruit - Colossians 1:1-9

Transformative Truth:
Trust the Transforming Power of the Gospel to Produce Fruit

1. The fruit of faith

2. The fruit of love

3. The fruit of hope

Blessed Be The Name - Part 4: "Prince Of Peace" - Isaiah 9:6-7

Transformative Truth:
Jesus Christ provides the rule that real peace requires.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

Jesus Christ provides the rule that real peace requires.

Peace in a Person

“Children ought to love the Lord Jesus Christ above all things in the world.” 

There is no love so great and so wonderful as that which is in the heart of Christ.

Peace through his Provision

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:1

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…. - Ephesians 2:14

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. - Isaiah 26:3-4

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. - Isaiah 26:3-4

Peace that is Perpetual

Jesus Christ provides the rule that real peace requires.

Blessed Be The Name - Part 3: "Everlasting Father" - Isaiah 9:6-7

Transformative Truth:
Jesus Christ is our “Everlasting Father”

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

BLESSED BE THE NAME: Part Three: "Everlasting Father" Isaiah 9:6

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a *voice from heaven* said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." - Matthew 3:16-17

1. Jesus Christ is the founder and head of the household of faith.
 
Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. - Isaiah 53:10

2. Jesus Christ is the benevolent protector and provider for his people.

3. Jesus Christ will never let us down.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" - Hebrews 13:5-6

Blessed Be The Name - Part 2: "Mighty God" - Isaiah 9:6

Transformative Truth:
The infinitely powerful Son of God fights for His people.

1.  "Mighty God" on earth

2.  "Mighty God" in heaven

3.  "Mighty God" in heaven and on earth together

Blessed Be The Name - Part 1: "Wonderful Counselor" - Isaiah 9:6

Transformative Truth:
As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus provides perfect wisdom and care for all who come to him.

For to us a child is born, To us a son is given; And the government shall be upon his shoulder, And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

The Prophetic Context

Matthew 4:12-13 Now when he heard that John [the Baptist] had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali....

Matthew 4:14-17 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of Gentiles- the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.... - Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder.... - Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

The Preeminent Counselor

1. Jesus is all-wise. 

2. Jesus is approachable. 

3. Jesus is reliable.

4. Jesus is available.

As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus provides perfect wisdom and care for all who come to him.

Applications:
1. Come to Jesus with all your struggles and sins.
2. Listen to Jesus through the Word of God.
3. Walk with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.