This message from Pastor Chingtok Ishaku, explores the critical relationship between grace, conscience, and the believer's pursuit of a faith-filled life.
The sermon emphasizes that true liberty is not just freedom from sin but a new life lived by the "faith of the Son of God," a life unhindered by external circumstances or the internal struggles of a seared conscience.
Pastor Chingtok begins by establishing that a specific "environment" is necessary for God's word to become a living reality in a person's life. He uses the metaphor of "the way to the city," suggesting that God's mercy is to guide us on this path. This environment is built on hearing God's word, as hearing must always precede doing. Actions performed without a foundation in hearing are considered "futility" and an attempt to impress God.
Pastor Chingtok delves into the topic of conscience, explaining that a person's conscience is not the ultimate measure of God's will but rather a reflection of their current understanding of God's knowledge. He warns that both "lasciviousness" (living without boundaries) and "religion" (rigid adherence to self-made rules) can kill a believer's pursuit of God. He argues that religion is particularly dangerous because it can operate without a healthy conscience, leading individuals to believe they are serving God even while persecuting others.
He uses the example of lying as a common sin that often hardens the conscience, making it easier to deceive and even take pride in being clever. The pastor stresses that a seared conscience can be alive in some areas while being "dead" in others.
The central point of the sermon is the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus to restore a damaged or deadened conscience. He contrasts the temporary purification of the Old Testament sacrifices (bulls and goats) with the eternal redemption provided by Christ's blood.
Pastor Chingtok teaches, the blood of Jesus, applied through the Holy Spirit, is the only mixture that can revive a believer's conscience. He encourages a prayer of faith, where a person pleads the blood of Jesus to revive their conscience in specific areas, such as lying.
Pastor Chingtok concludes by emphasizing that the New Testament's provision is so robust that staying down in sin is a choice. While perfection is the goal, the grace of God provides an escape from the cycle of sin and shame. The sin itself isn't the problem; the inability to repent is. The New Testament's eternal redemption is a powerful truth that, if truly believed, makes the act of sinning feel like an "insult" to the sacrifice of Christ.