1Timothy 3 has two parts called mysteries the first is from verse 8 through 13 and the second is from verse 14 through 4 verse 5. So here is what the first one states;
1Timothy 3:9 of 8-13 "Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus."
Within the context of our subject we find the qualifications required of deacons. Among them are to know and understand the mysteries of Christ, having a good conscience, experience, and being blameless and having holy boldness. It is these that I will take sometime to examine. It would do well to know that Paul was a Jewish Lawyer and most of his arguments are argued from that stand point and it is for this reason that many do not understand him or the arguments.
The mystery of Christ deals with our redemption and we have looked into this one before, so I will not do so again. Then we come to Romans, in the first few chapters of Romans we find GODS view of man in sin, immoral man, religious man, redeemed and justified man and then righteous man.
So here is having a good conscience, first some general references to and then the point that is made.
General References, to a Good Conscience,
Acts 23:1 of 1-5 "And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day." And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, "GOD is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the (Mosaic) Law, and yet contrary to the Law you order me to be struck?" Those who stood by said, "Would you revile God's high priest?" And Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"
Romans 2:15 of 12-16 "For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the (Mosaic) Law. For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before GOD, but the doers of the law (the true course that leads to life) who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the (Mosaic) Law, by nature do what the law (of life, have a clear conscience as) required, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the (Mosaic) Law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, GOD judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus."
Romans 13:5 of 1-7 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from GOD, and those that exist have been instituted by GOD. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what GOD has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one Who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive His approval, for he is GOD's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for He does not bear the sword in vain. For He is the servant of GOD, an avenger Who carries out GOD's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid GOD's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed."
1Corinthians 8:7 of 6, 7-13; 10:25 of 23-30; 2Corinthians 5:11 of 11-15 "Yet for us there is one GOD, the Father, from Whom are all things and for Whom we exist, and one LORD, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things and through Whom we exist.
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to GOD. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's (today's religious houses of worship) temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for Whom Christ also died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble."
1Corithinas 10:25 of 23-30; 2Corinthians 5:11 of 11-15 "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For "the earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof." (Psalm 24:1, 50:12) If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?"
2Corinthians 5:11 of 11-15 "Therefore, knowing the fear of the LORD, we persuade others. But what we are is known to GOD, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for GOD; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and HE died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him Who for their sake died and was raised (within them, John 12:24)."
Hebrews 9:14 of 11-14; 10:22 of 19-25 "But when Christ appeared as a High Priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) HE entered once for all into the Holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to GOD, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living GOD."
Hebrews 10:22 of 19-25 "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that HE opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great Priest over the house of GOD, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for HE Who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
A Good Conscience,
Acts 24:16 of 10-21 "And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the GOD of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the (Mosaic) Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in GOD, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both GOD and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: 'It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.'"
Romans 9:1 of 1-5 "I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the (Mosaic) Law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, Who is GOD over all, blessed forever. The Amen."
2Corinthians 1:12 of 12-14 "For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the Grace of GOD, and supremely so toward you. For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand—just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you."
1Timothy 1:5 of 3-7 "As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from GOD that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the (Mosaic) Law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions."
1Timothy 1:19 of 18-20; 3:9 of 8-13; Hebrews 13:15 of 7-16; 1Peter 2:19 of 18-3:7 "This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."
1Timothy 3:9 of 8-13; Hebrews 13:15 of 7-16; 1Peter 2:19 of 18-3:7 "Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 13:15 of 7-16; 1Peter 2:19 of 18-3:7 "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of GOD. Consider the outcome of their (law in the) way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent (tabernacle) have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood. Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to GOD, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to GOD."
1Peter 2:19 of 18-3:7 "Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of GOD, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of GOD. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When HE was reviled, HE did not revile in return; when HE suffered, HE did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him Who judges justly. HE Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed (restored). For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the Word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in GOD's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in GOD used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening."
1Peter 3:16 of 13-22 "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the LORD as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be GOD's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that HE might bring us to GOD, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the (our) spirit, in which HE went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison (Matthew 27:51-54), because they formerly did not obey, when GOD's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to GOD for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of GOD, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him."
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