how to get rid of a guilty conscience

Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Matthew 5:25-26 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience?

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? A. Because God is concerned about your attitudes. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. - v21-22

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? A. Because God is concerned about your attitudes. 1. The consequence for murder was capital punishment. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. - v21

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? A. Because God is concerned about your attitudes. 2. Jesus said he who provokes himself to anger is just as guilty. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. - v21

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 2. Jesus said he who provokes himself to anger is just as guilty. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. – v22 a. Raca (ῥακά) = idiot, “empty” headed.

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 2. Jesus said he who provokes himself to anger is just as guilty. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. – v22 a. Raca (ῥακά) = idiot, “empty” headed. Consequence: the supreme court

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 2. Jesus said he who provokes himself to anger is just as guilty. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. – v22 b. You fool (μωρός) = stupid (moron).

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid Consequence: burning in hell! of a Guilty Conscience? 2. Jesus said he who provokes himself to anger is just as guilty. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. – v22 b. You fool (μωρός) = stupid (moron). Consequence: burning in hell!

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? A. Because God is concerned about your attitudes. B. Because it can destroy your life message.

What are the benefits of a clear conscience? I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? What are the benefits of a clear conscience?

What are the benefits of a clear conscience? I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? What are the benefits of a clear conscience? 1. It’s part of your Christian discipline. Acts 24:16 - So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

What are the benefits of a clear conscience? I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? What are the benefits of a clear conscience? 2. It’s a cause for rejoicing. II Corinthians 1:12 - Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.

What are the benefits of a clear conscience? I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? What are the benefits of a clear conscience? 3. It’s a condition for receiving forgiveness. Proverbs 28:13 - He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

What are the benefits of a clear conscience? I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? What are the benefits of a clear conscience? 4. It’s a weapon for fighting Satan. I Timothy 1:18-19 - Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

What are the benefits of a clear conscience? I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? What are the benefits of a clear conscience? 5. It’s important in supplying power for your witness. I Peter 3:16 - But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? What are the benefits of a clear conscience? This is the testimony your total life presents to the world!

I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience. II I. Why Would You Want to Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience?

A. The answer is correct the damage. II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? A. The answer is correct the damage.

A. The answer is correct the damage. 1. What do most Christians do? II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? A. The answer is correct the damage. 1. What do most Christians do? I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

A. The answer is correct the damage. 2. Is that enough? II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? A. The answer is correct the damage. 2. Is that enough? . . . leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. - v24

A. The answer is correct the damage. 2. Is that enough? II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? A. The answer is correct the damage. 2. Is that enough? Acts 26:20 - I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.

B. Steps to take in making restitution. II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? B. Steps to take in making restitution.

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? B. Steps to take in making restitution. 1. Look into the mirror of God’s word.

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? James 1:23-25 - Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? B. Steps to take in making restitution. 1. Look into the mirror of God’s word. How do you use the mirror?

How do you use the mirror? 1. Have you stolen anything? II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? How do you use the mirror? 1. Have you stolen anything?

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? How do you use the mirror? 1. Have you stolen anything? 2. Have you lied to anyone?

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? How do you use the mirror? 1. Have you stolen anything? 2. Have you lied to anyone? 3. Have you lost your temper lately?

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? How do you use the mirror? 1. Have you stolen anything? 2. Have you lied to anyone? 3. Have you lost your temper lately? 4. Do you harbor bitterness?

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? How do you use the mirror? 1. Have you stolen anything? 2. Have you lied to anyone? 3. Have you lost your temper lately? 4. Do you harbor bitterness? 5. Have you acted cool to anyone?

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? B. Steps to take in making restitution. 1. Look into the mirror of God’s word. 2. Plan & then rehearse your apology.

2. Plan & then rehearse your apology. II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 2. Plan & then rehearse your apology. Luke 15:17-19 - When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.

2. Plan & then rehearse your apology. II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 2. Plan & then rehearse your apology. a. Place yourself in their shoes. James 4:8-10

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 2. Plan & then rehearse your apology. a. Place yourself in their shoes. b. It must come from a humble heart. - Genesis 33:3.

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 2. Plan & then rehearse your apology. a. Place yourself in their shoes. b. It must come from a humble heart. c. Actually confess that you were wrong!

B. Steps to take in making restitution. 3. Plan the right time. II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? B. Steps to take in making restitution. 3. Plan the right time. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. - v25-26

3. Plan the right time. a. Pray before you go. II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 3. Plan the right time. a. Pray before you go.

b. Go when the time is most convenient. II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 3. Plan the right time. a. Pray before you go. b. Go when the time is most convenient. Settle matters quickly with your adversary . . . Do it while you are still with him . . . - v25

II. How Can You Get Rid of a Guilty Conscience? 3. Plan the right time. a. Pray before you go. b. Go when the time is most convenient. c. Make it a time when you won’t be rushed.

Clear up your horizontal relationships before you involve yourself with the vertical one!