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?  Are your convictions feelings or are they based on your reading and studying of the Scriptures - that is how the Holy Spirit 'convinces' us during our walk.  See part I

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

II.  Our goal as a Christian for us is ... to be perfected in our walk toward holiness!

(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.

When we are weak...
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.

Why go back to the flesh to try to be better now?
see Acts 15:5
Galatians 3:3 - Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
(when we mess up, it is the flesh giving into temptation during this hour of temptation; and/or choosing sin's ways instead of serving... Romans 6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (we don't serve sin, our flesh chooses sinning!  It isn't us now!)  See also Romans 7:15+)

III.  Our goal as a church body:
We have no differences: Acts 15:9 - And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

He made us holy!
II Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
II Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Colossians 2:11-15 - spiritual circumcision, but don't let folks bug you about it, either!  Keep reading the next verses...  Colossians 2:16-23
Ephesians 1:6 - To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Colossians 1:21,22 -  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

There is that goal, again - be perfected - one of the three purposes of the local church, today!
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 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:
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?
The glue
Colossians 3:14 - And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Our prayers for each other:
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.

II Timothy 3:16,17 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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

Learn the Scriptures - 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.

Study the Scriptures!
II Timothy 2:15,16 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Read the Scriptures!
I Timothy 4:13 - Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Ephesians 3:4 - Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Colossians 4:16 - And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
I Thessalonians 5:27 - I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

Preach the Scriptures
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.

In our witness, we are to go after people's conscience, not their feelings nor their flesh!
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.

They won't hear it unless...
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!

And today, fewer and fewer actually 'hear' what God is trying to tell them - Christian or otherwise!
Amos 8:11-13 - Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.  In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.

Lost folks ( with possibly some Christians as well - always an exception, eh!  It can exist - see Ephesians 4:17-21)
I Corinthians 8:7 - weak and DEFILED conscience - Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
I Timothy 4:1,2 - seared conscience - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Titus 1:15,16 - defiled conscience - Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

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:

- not Reading the KJB!
- not understanding what you read because of lack of rightly dividing!
- following feelings instead of the Book!