Before any of you start getting a little heify over that last post—the one where I clearly erred in moral judgment, even though I still intend to go through with it, if I can—take a look at my latest Bible study note on what you're supposed to be doing with that clean conscience of yours that you're just dying to wave in my face...
Most people's primary reason for keeping their hands clean (abstaining from sin)—and, therefore, possessing a clear conscience before God—is to preserve their own lives; but, that's not the right motive, even if it is the right means:
Jesus even said:
Most people's primary reason for keeping their hands clean (abstaining from sin)—and, therefore, possessing a clear conscience before God—is to preserve their own lives; but, that's not the right motive, even if it is the right means:
Therefore I [am ready to] persevere and stand my ground with patience and endure everything for the sake of the elect [God's chosen], so that they too may obtain [the] salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with [the reward of] eternal glory.Seeking life through righteousness is for the explicit and sole purpose to serve the lives of other saints, who are an early dispensation of your eternal reward: that is, an intimate and eternal friendship with like-minded, loving, faithful and true brothers and sisters molded in Christ.
Jesus even said:
For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].Seeking life, then, by righteous conduct may obtain it, but using it for the benefit of the saints is essential to keeping it; otherwise, you may die, leaving behind any number of confused people asking, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" The answer being, of course, that you weren't making good with your "good."
