Convictions - we all have them.
You know, you have heard it and even said it - you will die for your convictions!
i.e. sports for women; organized and pro-sports; modesty levels; dresses vs pants (shorts are just short pants...); hair length; foods, tattoos and piercings; language; pictures; images; movies, etc.  The list can go on forever, especially from those who live a 'checklist Christianity!'

    Gipp - legalist: someone who has one more conviction than you! / liberal - someone who has one less conviction than you!

Do we die for convictions?  Do we have convictions?  Should we have convictions?  What does the Bible say about convictions?  Are convictions what we make them out to be?  Are convictions just one more thing preachers have 'created' to get folks to respond?

Our goal as a Christian towards God:
To give HIM pleasure in what we do, not pleasure OURSELVES in what we "don't" do!

Our goal as a Christian for us is to be perfected!
(don't' forget - perfect means finished!  See II Chronicles 8:16 - Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished.  So the house of the LORD was perfected.

II Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
II Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
II Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Ephesians 4:12 - For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13 - Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Colossians 3:14 - And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 1:28 - Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
II Timothy 3:17 - That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
I Thessalonians 3:10 - Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
Galatians 3:3 - Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Age of Conscience - After Adam up to the flood, and then even past the flood through OT for Gentiles only.  The Jews had the law given to them from Moses!
Romans 2:14,15 -  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Brethren:
I Corinthians 8:9,10 - weak conscience - But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
I Timothy 1:19 - a shipwreck - Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

A good conscience for a goal in our growth!
I Timothy 1:5 - Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

But for many, life is a shipwreck!
I Timothy 1:19 -  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

A wrecked conscience seems to be most Christians today!
I Timothy 1:19 - Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

Paul's example of a conscience
Acts 23:1 -  And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

A good conscience for a goal in our growth!
I Timothy 1:5 - Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

Mystery of faith - a deacon!
I Timothy 3:9 - Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Good Conscience Concerning Prayer!
II Timothy 1:3 - I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

Our Testimony of conscience!
II Corinthians 1:12 - For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Paul had to work at it!
Acts 24:16 - And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Purged now and then!
RD this for us shows that it isn't our salvation at issue here - but it is still written FOR us!
Hebrews 9:14 - How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 13:18 - Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

Peter says (as he teaches Paul to the Jews - we can accept this advice as well!)
Endure grief for doing right!
I Peter 2:19 - For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

Not be ashamed!
I Peter 3:14-16 - But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

In our witness, we are to go after people's conscience!
II Corinthians 4:1, 2 - Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

We are to preach to their conscience!
II Corinthians 5:11,12 -  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
Romans 10:13-15 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

3.  Show Scriptures
Acts 18:28 -For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

4.  Preaching
I Corinthians 14:24, 25 - But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:  And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. I Corinthians 1:18 -  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

5.  Learn Sound Doctrine!
Titus 1:9 - Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.