Developing Biblical Convictions

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The Anchor in Chaos

Ephesians 4:11-13

So, Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers, to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:14-16

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.

You can develop healthy convictions when you:

(From John Anderson)

1. Examine the areas of life for which you need to make decisions. Chaos: Marriage and Sexual identity, Racism, Sex, Sanctity of Life.

2. Evaluate the evidence using Biblical principles and godly motivation. Genesis 1, Psalm 119

   1. Evidence (God’s revelation to us) is the foundation of our convictions

   2. Start with God and His word.

   3. God wants to be your anchor- Promising to protect you under his care. 1 Peter 5

   4. Science and Scripture do not conflict. The interpretation of the facts do. “Is Atheism Dead” by Eric Metaxes

3. Search the Scriptures for direct teaching on the subject. 2 Timothy 3:16

4. Honestly investigate the nature of the practice and its long-range consequences. Proverbs 23:23 Don’t get your convictions from ignorance, emotions, or a movement.

5. Seek godly counsel regarding beliefs related to these practices. Proverbs 12:15

   1. (2000 years). Seek those who start with God and produce good fruit!

6. Be willing to do God’s will and submit to what you know it to be. John 5:30

   1. “Convictions without humility are just opinions.”

7. Pray, “Thy will be done on earth (in my life) as it is in heaven.” Matt 6:10

   1. “Christian convictions are lived out in relationship with God himself.”

8. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts by faith” (Col. 3: 15).

   1. Jesus came to redeem, renew, and regenerate my life.

9. Write out and review your biblical standards consistent with your inner convictions. Eph 4:18-32

   1. Put off your desires and Put on Christ’s desires

10. Count the cost and be willing to suffer any consequences for keeping your convictions. Luke 14:27

    1. Standing alone for Christ is the only way to experience Christ.

    2. Strong biblical convictions have always created a vise for followers of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 10:2-5

I beg you that when I come, I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

1 John 5:18-20

We know that we are of God and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who Is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.