Moral Courage Mark 8 34 38 2 Peter

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Moral Courage Mark 8: 34 -38 2 Peter 1: 5

Moral Courage Mark 8: 34 -38 2 Peter 1: 5

Moral Courage • 2 Peter 1: 5 (virtue): “Moral excellence” (courage) to stand for

Moral Courage • 2 Peter 1: 5 (virtue): “Moral excellence” (courage) to stand for what is right against all opposition and every adversity • Blessed by God, Matt 5: 10 -12 – Invaluable to faith: Without moral courage faith will weaken, falter and fail – Courageous raised to glory, Rev 6: 9 -11; 20: 4 • Spiritual backbone, 1 Cor 16: 13 2

Moral Cowardice • PILATE: Failed to use his authority to exercise justice 1) MORAL

Moral Cowardice • PILATE: Failed to use his authority to exercise justice 1) MORAL COWARDICE KNOWS THE RIGHT THING TO DO BUT DOES NOT DO IT, Luke 23: 4, 14 -15, 22, 20 • EVIL PREVAILS! Lk 23: 23 -25 (Jas 4: 17) 2) MORAL COWARDICE TRIES TO JUSTIFY ITSELF BEFORE ITS PEERS, Matt 27: 24 • GOD IS NOT CONVINCED! 3

Moral Cowardice • PETER: Knew the truth but failed to acknowledge (confess) it 1)

Moral Cowardice • PETER: Knew the truth but failed to acknowledge (confess) it 1) MORAL COWARDICE VALUES PERSONAL SAFETY OVER THE TRUTH, Matt 26: 69 -75 • Selfish fear leads to lying 2) MORAL COWARDICE FEARS THE CONSEQUENCES OF STANDING FOR THE TRUTH, Gal 2: 11 -14 (Jno 12: 4243) • Afraid of unfavorable reactions 4

Moral Courage • PAUL: A man who publicly resisted public sin, Gal 2: 11,

Moral Courage • PAUL: A man who publicly resisted public sin, Gal 2: 11, 14 1) MORAL COURAGE IS PUBLIC ABOUT ITS FAITH • Takes a public stand when the truth is publicly violated (sin) • Outnumbered but did not retreat • Truth and souls were at stake • GOAL: Gospel will prevail so souls can be saved, Gal 2: 3 -5 5

Moral Courage • DANIEL AND COMPANIONS: Commitment to the true God 1) MORAL COURAGE

Moral Courage • DANIEL AND COMPANIONS: Commitment to the true God 1) MORAL COURAGE REQUIRES PURPOSE AND PURITY OF HEART, Dan 1: 8 2) MORAL COURAGE TRUSTS IN GOD, Dan 3: 16 -18 • Confident of deliverance, 3: 17 (24 -27) • Trust in and serve God only, 3: 18 3) MORAL COURAGE WILL NOT COMPROMISE WITH SIN, Dan 6: 7 -10, 6 23 (Acts 5: 29)

We Need Moral Courage • Christians with the courage to suffer isolation because of

We Need Moral Courage • Christians with the courage to suffer isolation because of their moral purity, 1 Pet 4: 3 -5 (1 Tim 4: 12; 2 Tim 2: 22) 1) CHRISTIANS ARE TEMPTED TO CONFORM TO THE WORLD • Distinct morality is a great example, 1 Pet 2: 11 -12 • May be rejected/opposed, 1 Pet 4: 4 • Keep your moral courage and you will be blessed by God 7

We Need Moral Courage • Preachers, with the courage to preach the truth that

We Need Moral Courage • Preachers, with the courage to preach the truth that needs to be heard, 2 Tim 4: 1 -5 1) NOT SILENCE FOR THE SAKE OF “PEACE” (SO CALLED), OR FOR RELATIONSHIPS OR BEING ”CAST OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE” 2) PREACH TO THE NEED OF THE MOMENT, Acts 2: 23, 36; 24: 25 (2 Tim 4: 2) • PURPOSE: To save souls, Acts 4: 17 -20 8

We Need Moral Courage • To confess Jesus Christ in our lives without shame,

We Need Moral Courage • To confess Jesus Christ in our lives without shame, Mark 8: 38 1) TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN, Acts 2: 3741 2) TO LIVE FAITHFULLY, 2 Cor 5: 7 3) TO TEACH THE GOSPEL, Rom 1: 15 -16 4) TO BE A GODLY EXAMPLE, Matt 5: 1316 “add to your faith, virtue” (2 Peter 1: 5) 9