The First Epistle To Timothy - Executable Outlines

C. FAITH DESTROYED...
1. Weakened by neglecting the Word of God! - cf. Hos 4:6
2. More likely to turn to unbelief by forsaking fellowship with other Christians! - He 3:12-14
3. Becomes a dead faith in the absence of works! - cf. Ja 2:20-23,26
[When you neglect the Word of God, forsake fellowship with brethren, and cease to do the will of God,
you reject your faith, and make shipwreck of the faith. One also suffers shipwreck of the faith...]
II. BY REJECTING ONE'S CONSCIENCE
A. CONSCIENCE DEFINED...
1. “that process of thought which distinguishes what it considers morally good or bad,
commending the good, condemning the bad, and so prompting to do the former, and to
avoid the latter.” - Vine
2. Our conscience cannot always be reliable
a. Paul had served God with a good conscience throughout his life - Ac 23:1
b. Even at a time when he was persecuting Christians! - cf. Ac 26:9-11
c. Our conscience is like a clock, which works properly only if set correctly
3. Even so, God desires that we have a good conscience - 1 Ti 1:5; cf. 3:9
B. CONSCIENCE DEVELOPED...
1. A good conscience is made possible through Jesus’ blood
a. Old Testament sacrifices and ordinances were insufficient - He 9:9; cf. 10:1-4
b. The blood of Jesus can cleanse one’s conscience - He 9:14; cf. 1 Pe 3:21
2. A good conscience is maintained by obedience to God’s will
a. Failure to do what we know is right is sinful - Ja 4:17
b. Conduct with godly sincerity makes for a good conscience - e.g., 2 Co 1:12
C. CONSCIENCE DESTROYED...
1. Much harm can be done to our conscience
a. We can violate our conscience, which is sinful - Ro 14:22-23
b. We can defile our conscience, leading to unbelief - e.g., Ti 1:15
c. We can sear our conscience, leading to apostasy - e.g., 1 Ti 4:1-2
2. Whenever we ignore or violate our conscience, we are in dangerous territory!
a. A guilty conscience soon leads to a hardened conscience
1) E.g., once our conscience is hardened regarding attendance
2) ...it is more likely to become hardened against doing what is right in other areas
b. Can we say what the writer of Hebrews did? - He 13:18
1) “...for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live
honorably”
2) If we make it a habit not to attend all the services of the church, can we really say
“we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably”?
CONCLUSION
1. The Faith (the gospel) is designed to develop and nurture one’s faith and conscience...
Mark A. Copeland
Sermons From First Timothy 18