The Marks Of True Faith: 1.A Good Conscience - Zac Poonen
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that understanding faith is critical because it determines eternal destiny, making it more important than any physical medicine. He contrasts the faith of the Old Testament, which often focused on external actions, with the superior faith of the New Testament, which must spring from the heart. True faith requires maintaining both a good conscience and steadfast belief, as God has provided something far superior through Christ.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why understanding faith is a matter of eternityFaith is the foundation upon which we risk our eternal destiny, making it far more vital to get right than the medicines we take for physical sickness.
Without faith it is impossible to please GodHebrews 11:6 establishes that faith is fundamental, and while the Old Testament focused mostly on external actions and miracles, New Testament faith deals deeply with the inside of a person.Hebrews 11:6
God has provided something better for usThe New Covenant brought by Jesus Christ is as far above the Old Covenant as heaven is above earth, offering a superior faith authored and perfected by Jesus.
Holding faith and a good conscience togetherPaul instructs Timothy to fight the spiritual warfare of the Christian life by keeping both faith and a good conscience together, warning that rejecting a good conscience leads to a shipwrecked faith.1 Timothy 1:18
Miracles do not replace a good conscienceEven people who perform miracles or cast out demons in Jesus' name will be turned away if they lived as workers of iniquity who ignored their conscience.Matthew 7:22–23
The goal of our instruction is loveTrue instruction aims for a love that flows out of a pure heart, a sincere faith, and a good conscience.1 Timothy 1:5
The eye as the lamp of the bodyJesus uses the human eye in Luke 11 as a picture of the conscience, explaining that when your conscience is clear, your whole heart is full of light.
Paul's example of a clear conscience before GodWhen standing trial before councils and rulers, Paul testified that he had lived his life with a perfectly good conscience, correcting his mistakes immediately when he realized them.Acts 23:1
Protecting those with a weak conscienceFirst Corinthians 8 and Romans 14 discuss believers with weaker or defiled consciences, cautioning strong believers not to let their liberty become a stumbling block.
Recognizing weaker vessels and giving them honorJust as husbands are commanded to give honor to their wives as weaker vessels, believers must be patient and avoid judging others who see things differently.1 Peter 3:7
