Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate.  Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach.  For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.

 
 
 

Going to Jesus

Daily Thoughts

 Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:

 

Thought for the Morning
10-27

Doubt and Damnation

He who doubts is damned
Paul, in Romans 14:23

From a sermon by Preacher Clark at Grandma’s house, October 4, 1970.
From Gary Savelli’s Reel 11, CD 33, Track 8

The life to which God calls us is clean. Those who live as He directs have no shame; they have a clear conscience. Preacher Clark always exhorted us to avoid becoming involved in the “grey areas” of life. He would say, “If you have a doubt about whether it is right or not, stay away from it.” He understood that a pure conscience is a precious possession. A pure conscience receives the word of God clearly, whereas a conscience that is condemned disrupts the heart’s fellowship with God. Adam and Eve felt so much condemnation in their hearts when they sinned that they hid in the bushes when God came to them. They were ashamed of themselves and afraid of God’s wrath.

A troubled conscience, however, is actually God’s work, letting us know that what we are doing, or what we plan to do, is wrong. If we stubbornly push through the warning of our conscience, then whatever we do is sin, and our hearts feel condemnation. Referring to an instance of this, Paul told the saints in Rome that if a man had a doubt even about eating the food he ate, he was damned (Rom. 14:23).

We have faith toward God when we do His will and keep ourselves “unspotted from the world.” This is why Paul wrote, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” If we do not push through God’s warnings, but listen to Him, we will abide safely under His wing and have peace in our hearts.

What are you planning to do today? Is it clean and pure in the sight of God? If so, go and do it all with all of your heart and be blessed. But, to quote Preacher Clark from his sermon long ago, “If there’s a doubt, there’s a damn”, and you want to stay away from that.

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