Week 8: The Remedies for Sinful Fear (part 3)

Be Clear on the Worth of Jesus

Hebrews 10:34 ESV

For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

Be Clear on the Stability of Our Treasure

2 Timothy 1:12 ESV

which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Be Clear on the Limits of Death

Philippians 1:19–21 ESV

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

At conversion, the Christian exchanges the love of the world for the love of Christ.

At death, the Christian departs the world to be with Christ.

Possess a Clear Conscience

Conscience: the psychological faculty that distinguishes between right and wrong; either afflicts or comforts the person depending upon their actions.

Paul was arrested in the temple, brought before the Roman Tribune, appeared before the Jewish Council and then sent to Felix the Governor

Acts 24:10–16 ESV

And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

What did Paul mean that he took pains to have a clear conscience?

Possessing a clear conscience comes as a result of effort… repeated effort

Romans 9:1 ESV

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—

Our conscience is an independent witness to the truth. It is given to us by God to act to guard against a peace with evil.

Fear flows from guilt. Peace flows from righteousness.

His confidence is great because his conscience is quiet.