Sunday Morning Sermon

Preached by John Gaines at Leonard Street Church of Christ

September 7, 2003

1. There is a great need for conviction in the church today.

a. Great battles have always been won by people of conviction. In a book he wrote about World War I, Winston Churchill mentioned Brigadier-General Hugh Tudor whose forces steadfastly resisted a concentrated German effort to take the territory Tudor's troops were holding. Churchill described Tudor as "an iron peg hammered into the frozen ground, immovable." The same description aptly fits Churchill himself as the leader of Britain during the Second World War. No bend. No give. Standing firmly and steadfastly for their convictions.

b. Shammah [2 Samuel 23:11-12 (NKJV) And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. Then the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great victory.]

c. A battle over truth rages in our country and even inside the church today. Some have a tendency to be wishy-washy . . . unwilling to take a definite stand.

(1) Paul wrote to the Galatians [Galatians 4:14-16 (NKJV) And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?]

(2) These are probably the same people in the Galatian city of Lystra who first tried to worship Paul as a god, then turned around and stoned him [Acts 14:18-19 (NKJV) And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. 19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.]

(3) We cannot go back and forth from one side to the other. We must have strong convictions and stand by them [1 Kings 18:21 (NASB) And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.]

(4) Dante said, "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a period of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality."

2. We need conviction, but it needs to be the right kind of conviction.

a. There can be a fine line between conviction and stubbornness.

b. There is nothing commendable about bullheadedly holding on to a position which has been shown to be wrong. A person with a closed mind has conviction, but it hinders rather than helps him. If you've ever been in a Bible study with a person who could not be shown the truth because he was determined to hold on to error, you know that blind loyalty to a position which cannot be supported by the truth causes people to be kept away from obedience to the gospel of Christ.

c. Let us look at qualities of Christian conviction.

I. CHRISTIAN CONVICTION IS CONVICTION BASED ON SOLID BIBLE TRUTH.

A. The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, authoritative Word of God [2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.] The Bible is trustworthy in giving us God's revelation of His will for how we should think and act.

B. Tlhis conviction convinces us that we have the ability to discern the difference between what God says (divine revelation) and what man thinks (human opinion).

1. Some will respond to a statement of Bible truth with a rejoinder like "That's just your interpretation!" or "That's not the way I see it and people can't understand the Bible alike anyway."

2. Those remarks show that the speaker doesn't know the difference between fact and interpretation. Jesus expects us to be able to know what the truth is [John 8:31-32 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." We need to make a clear distinction between revealed truth and opinion.

3. Great damage has been done by those who sought to require others to accept their opinions.

II. CHRISTIAN CONVICTION LEADS US TO BEHAVE WITH THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS.

A. We know there must be a difference in the behavior of Christians and people of the world.

1. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2. Titus 2:12 (NKJV) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

3. James 1:27 (NKJV) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

B. The conviction of a Christian is to treat everyone right in every situation we face in life.

1. Christian marriages should be better because Christian husbands and Christian wives ought to always behave in the right way toward their mates. If that is true, why do we have so many divorces in marriages where both partners are Christians? Obviously, there has been a breakdown in living up to our standards.

2. Christians should always be honest and fair in business dealings. Why is it that sometimes non-Christians are nicer to do business with than members of the church? An older Christian once gave this advice -- and it's sad that there's so much truth in it. He said, "Never do business with members of the church. They will cheat you and you can't sue them because they're your brothers!" Of course, all Christian business people are not dishonest cheaters. Hopefully, the percentage of your brothers in Christ who would cheat you is small. But it is unfortunate that the conviction that we must treat others rightly is not universally practiced by members of the Lord's church.

III. CHRISTIAN CONVICTION CAN'T BE COMPROMISED FOR THE SAKE OF CONVENIENCE.

A. It is always easier to go along with the crowd than it is to take a principled stand based on conviction.

1. During times of persecution, early Christians were given the choice "Deny Christ or Die!" History records that many compromised their faith because they valued their lives more than their souls. This is the basis behind the Lord's admonition to the Christians in Smyrna ino Revelation 2:10 (NKJV) "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." The message is really very simple -- Compromise your faith and lose the crown or be faithful until death and receive the crown of life.

2. We must not allow ourselves to be conformed to the world [Romans 12:2].

a. We compromise our convictions when we behave like worldly people behave. We've already seen from Titus 2:12 that Christians are to live soberly, righteously, and godly.

b. When we take a stand to be different, that will make us different from the world around us. [1 Peter 4:3-5 (NKJV) For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles; when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.]

B. When one becomes a Christian, he (or she) makes a commitment to live the Christian life. An essential part of discipleship is cross-bearing [Matthew 16:24 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.]

1. There's always an easier way -- but if it's not the better way we can't surrender to it.

2. If we are to be a faithful people we must stand firmly by our Biblical convictions. [Ephesians 6:13 (NKJV) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.] "Having done all to stand" is a pretty good motto to guide us during difficult times when our faith and our faithfulness are being tested.

CONCLUSION