THE LAW: COMMANDMENT AND CONSCIENCE

Remember Our Master and Judge

The Lord is the judge, not us.

Romans 14:4 “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

Our goal should be to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

Good works and obedience do not save us.

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

We don’t lose our salvation if we disobey the Lord, but if we displease Him, He will discipline us.

See Hebrews 12:5-11...

Is Our Conscience Infallible?

Though we should never do something to violate our conscience, our conscience is not always correct.

See 1 Corinthians 4:1-5...

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Proverbs 28:26 “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Let God’s Word Inform Your Conscience

We must strive to accurately handle the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

We must filter every thought and opinion through the God’s word.

2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

Acts 17:11 “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Test Case

Is it okay to make an image of Christ since He came as a man?

Do any verses address this? Do any verses commend making an image of Christ? Do any condemn it?

Is making an image of Christ okay for teaching purposes?

Do any verses say that an image can be used for teaching purposes? Did the early church in Acts use images for teaching purposes? Did their lack of images stunt their growth at all? How does the Bible tell us people get faith? How does the Bible tell us people grow in holiness? If God’s word is sufficient, then do we need images of Christ for teaching purposes? Is it possible that images of Christ are harming instead of helping? Are images giving us a smaller view of Christ or a bigger one?

Is it okay to make an image of Christ if my conscience doesn’t bother me?

Is it possible to do something wrong without your conscience bothering you? Can you think of any instances in Scripture where people did something that seemed good to them, but the Lord was displeased? Is my conscience the final judge on whether something is right or wrong?