Mark 8:34-38Mark 8:34-382 Peter 1:52 Peter 1:5
Moral CourageMoral Courage
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
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Moral Cowardice
• PILATE: Failed to use his authority to exercise justice1) 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!
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Moral Cowardice
• PETER: Knew the truth but failed to acknowledge (confess) it1) 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 12:42-43)
• Afraid of unfavorable reactions• Wrong priorities (Matt 10:28)
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Moral Courage
• PAUL: A man who publicly resisted public sin, Gal 2:11, 141) 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 God1) 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, 3:183) MORAL COURAGE WILL NOT
COMPROMISE WITH SIN, Dan 6:7-10, 23 (Acts 5:29) 6
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 needs to be heard, 2 Tim 4:1-51) 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, Mark 8:381) TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN, Acts 2:37-412) TO LIVE FAITHFULLY, 2 Cor 5:73) TO TEACH THE GOSPEL, Rom 1:15-164) TO BE A GODLY EXAMPLE, Matt 5:13-16
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“add to your faith, virtue”
(2 Peter 1:5)
“add to your faith, virtue”
(2 Peter 1:5)