MORAL COURAGE
Intro.
1. 2 Pet. 1:5 - "Virtue" - Moral excellence (courage) to stand for
what is right against all opposition and every adversity.
a. Matt. 5:10-12 - Blessed for it.
b. Rev. 6:9-11; 20:4 - Those with it will be raised to thrones of glory!
2. Being a Christian demands backbone - Conviction and willingness to act on one's
convictions - 1 Cor. 16:13.
I. EXAMPLES OF AN ABSENCE OF MORAL COURAGE.
A. Pilate - A Man Who Failed To Use His Authority To Free The Innocent
(Jesus).
1. Moral cowardice knows what is right, but will not do it.
a. Lk. 23:4, 14-15, 22 - He found no fault - Jesus was
innocent!
b. Lk. 23:20 - He knew what was right & desired to do
so.
c. But, Lk. 23:23-25 - He let evil prevail!
d. cf. Jas. 4:17 - We let evil prevail when we don't do
what we know is right, & when we content ourselves by saying "I wanted to do the
right thing!!"
2. Moral cowardice seeks to justify itself before it peers.
a. Matt. 27:24 - "I am innocent!"
b. We may succeed in justifying ourselves before men but we
won't before God!
B. Peter - A Man Who Knew The Truth But Didn't Acknowledge It.
1. Moral cowardice values safety over truth - Matt. 26:69-75.
a. It can lead a person to lie - 26:70, 72, 74.
(selfishness)
b. It can lead one to violate his conscience (Peter).
c. It will ultimately result in bitterness of heart.
2. Moral cowardice fears the consequences of standing for truth - Gal.
2:12-14.
a. 2:12 - Afraid of reaction of fellow Jews.
b. Jno. 12:42-43 - To them the consequence was greater than
the benefit!
c. 12:43 - Values were not proper! (cf. Matt. 10:28)
II. EXAMPLES OF MORAL COURAGE.
A. Paul - One Who Publicly Resisted Sin.
1. Moral courage takes a public stand for truth.
a. Gal. 2:11, 14 - He didn't back down from truth despite
being outnumbered!
b. 2:3-5 - Goal is that the gospel will prevail!
B. Daniel & His Three Companions - Commitment To The True God.
1. Moral courage is purpose of heart - Dan. 1:8.
a. Despite being in a strange land, being young, being
under the authority of King Nebuchadnezzar.
b. Moral courage doesn't make excuses - It makes its stand!
2. Moral courage trusts in God - Dan. 3:16-18.
a. 3:17 - Confident of deliverance (3:24-27).
b. 3:28 - Trust in & serve God only!
3. Moral courage will not compromise with sin - Dan. 6:7-10.
a. 6:10 - Continued his practice of prayer to God! (6:23 -
Faith!)
b. Acts 5:29 - No compromise!
III. THE NEED FOR MORAL COURAGE TODAY.
A. Christians With The Courage To Suffer Isolation Because They Practice
Moral Purity - l Pet. 4:3-5.
1. Christians are tempted to conform to the world.
a. When the world sees a Christian who will not compromise
his values, his distinctive morality is a rebuke of their ungodliness.
b. 4:4 - May speak evil of you when you don't participate
in their dirty jokes, drinking, cursing, dancing, immodesty, gambling, etc. - They will
probably ostracize you!
c. Maintain your moral courage - Blessed.
B. Preachers With The Courage To Preach What Is Needed - 2 Tim.4:1-5
1. Sin must not be tolerated for the sake of peace! …nor for the
sake of the possible loss of job (cf. "cast out of the synagogue"!), etc.
2. Acts 2:23, 36; 24:25 - They preached to the of the moment!
3. For the purpose of saving souls! To lead men to repentance! To
remove complacency! (Acts 4:18-20)
C. We All Need The Moral Courage To Confess Jesus In Our Lives - Mk. 8:38 (to not
be ashamed of Him).
1. To become a Christian (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-41).
2. To live faithfully (2 Cor. 5:7).
3. To teach the gospel (Rom. 1:15-16).
4. To be a light in the world, the salt of the earth.
Conclusion
1. We all need greater moral courage. Like Peter, may we repent of our
sinful failures & begin again to show moral courage in our faith.
2. Let us be men & women of faithful conviction & dutiful action!