A Good Conscience and Christs Return - Zac Poonen
Summary
The speaker urges believers to take their spiritual inheritance in Christ seriously, comparing their lack of diligence to treating money. He emphasizes that spiritual stagnation suggests God is not a primary focus, and true seeking of God leads to finding Him. Furthermore, he warns that believers must live lives that do not give occasion to the enemy to blaspheme, and he contrasts two groups at Christ's return: those who will be bold and those who will shrink away in shame.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Are we as serious about spiritual things as we are about money?Many believers live far below their spiritual potential because they are not passionate about studying and claiming their inheritance in Christ.
Giving the enemies of the Lord occasion to blasphemeWhen believers sin and quarrel, they bring dishonor to God's name, much like David's sin gave occasion for enemies to blaspheme God in the Old Testament.
Confidence versus shame at the coming of ChristWhen Christ returns, believers will face a judgment of their entire lives, with some having bold confidence and others shrinking away in shame.1 John 2:28
Living in constant readiness so the day does not overtake usTrue Christians live in constant alertness, leaving nothing unsettled, so that the sudden return of Christ does not surprise them like a thief in the night.
Paul's testimony of a blameless conscienceApostle Paul made it his aim to always maintain a blameless conscience before God and men, quickly settling and apologizing for any wrongs.
Why husbands and wives fail to apologize quicklyPride is the only reason people fail to immediately apologize after speaking a rude word, and pride is of the devil.
Standing for God's word and the two resurrectionsPaul stood unashamedly for the entire word of God and lived diligently in light of the resurrection of the righteous.Acts 24:14
Avoiding the spirit of the Antichrist and the mark of manThe spiritual meaning behind 666 represents man trying to act like God by refusing to apologize and exercising unauthorized control.
Openly bearing the name of the LambUnlike secret disciples of Satan, true followers of Jesus are openly known and determined to follow the Lamb in every step of life.Revelation 14:1–4
Christ came to show us how to live every dayWhile Christ died for our sins, He also came to show us how to live, love, humble ourselves, and never retaliate.
Do we take the blood of Christ too lightly?Because confession under the New Covenant does not cost money like Old Covenant animal sacrifices, believers often treat sin and Christ's blood casually.
The danger of willful sin and trampling the Son of GodGoing on sinning willfully after knowing the truth treats the blood of the covenant as a cheap, common thing and brings terrifying expectation of judgment.Hebrews 10:26–29
Having the same attitude as Christ JesusBelievers can navigate every daily situation by holding onto one primary attitude: the mind and humility that was in Christ Jesus.Philippians 2:5
Christ's descent from deity to the crossJesus humbled Himself completely from God to man, then to a slave, and finally to a criminal's death on a cross.
Exalted over sin through humilityGod exalted Jesus because He humbled Himself, and those who humble themselves will be similarly granted victory to rule over sin.
The necessity of the Holy Spirit's powerLiving this victorious Christian life is impossible without a daily hunger and thirst for the power of the Holy Spirit.
