The challenge of the Christian life is to live before God and the world so as to not hinder anyone one from knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. The Word of God is clear on this issue for 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all; things are become new.” Also 1 Peter 2:12, “Having your conversation (manner of life) honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
Sooner or later, in living this new life in Christ, the problem of doubtful things, borderline things and things that pertain to this world system and things which within themselves, might seem harmless, are all to be evaluated by the child of God on the basis of what indulgence may do to his testimony.
Ephesians 4:21-24, “If so be that ye have heard Him, and been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation (manner of life) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts (desires), and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
The Word of God makes things clear to those who are taught of the Spirit.
EIGHT TESTS on how to judge doubtful things
A. THE TEST OF PRIORITY Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
- Will it affect my love and devotion to the Savior?
- Will it affect my time given to my Bible?
- Will it affect my prayer life; little or much?
- Will it be used for myself or for God’s glory?
B. THE TEST OF EDIFICATION WILL IT BUILD ME UP SPIRITUALLY?
| What will it do to my spiritual life and growth? | Aid | Hinder | Ruin |
| What will it do to my testimony for Christ? | Aid | Hinder | Ruin |
| What will it do to my service for Christ? | Aid | Hinder | Ruin |
1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink. or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
C. THE TEST OF EXPEDIENCY
1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
Is it really necessary and will I be:
- Physically benefited?
- Spiritually benefited?
Is it a problem about my job or employment?
- Is my job itself a poor witness for the Lord?
- Can I live an open Christian life on this job?
- If you have answered in the negative, then it would be better to ask the Lord to help you find another job where your testimony will not be hindered. Proverbs 3:5,6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.”
D. THE TEST OF MASTERY
Romans 6:6, ” Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
1. Will this thing master me, hold me in it’s power and make me a slave to it?
2. Will it forge shackles that I cannot break? Then that thing MUST GO!
E. THE TEST OF BEING AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS
I Corinthians 8:9-13, (verse 12) “But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.”
- What will fellow Christians think of me for doing this thing?
- What will my unsaved friends think of me for doing this thing?
- What will it do for my development of being like Jesus?
F. THE TEST OF WORLDLINESS
(James 4:4) I John 2:15,16, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
I. Is it in the world where the unsaved and ungodly seek their pleasure?
2. Is it of the world; that is, its ways, fashions, music and morals?
3. Is it among those who have no time for God, and the Bible?
G. THE TEST OF READINESS – TO MEET THE LORD
(II Corinthians 6:17; I John 2:15,16) I John 2:28, “And now little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
- Readiness will mean SEPARATION – putting away doubtful things.
Titus 2: 12,13, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldy lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”
- Readiness will mean PREPARATION – getting ready to meet Him
I John 3:2,3, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”
- Readiness will mean EXPECTATION – to meet Him in the air.
I Thessalonians 4:16-18, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
H. THE FINAL TEST-OWNERSHIP: WE BELONG TO JESUS
I Corinthians 6:19, 20, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
- We have been redeemed at infinite cost.
I Peter 1:18, 19. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (way of life) received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
- We are now His by right of creation and redemption.
Colossians 1:16, 20, “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
3, We are to be presented faultless by Him.
(Jude 24) Ephesians 5:26, 27, “That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any other such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
CONCLUSION:
That your evaluation is for yourself alone, not any other. Romans 14:5, “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
That your evaluation must also consider the weaker Christian brother Romans 14:15,16, “But if a brother be grieved with thy meat, now walketh thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, or whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of.”
That what you do is to be done in faith, otherwise it is sin. Romans 14:23, ” And he is doubtful is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”