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

The Christian life:
I Timothy 2:1-3 - I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Hebrews 13:18 - Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

A good conscience is a good goal to have during our growth - in fact, it will help when it comes to reading, studying and preaching, etc.!
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:

How about the conclusion of the whole matter by a man who tried the world's ways!
Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 - lots of preaching in those verses, eh!
Wisdom from the world - Montana Meanderings... a touch of humour is all the world can give, actually!

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 is an example for us to follow concerning 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.

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.

A deacon!
I Timothy 3:9 - Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure 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;

We were purged now and our dead works must eventually be purged, as well!!
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?
I Corinthians 3:13-15 - Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

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.

What you lose is nothing, anyway, if it wasn't for Him!
Philippians 3:7-10 - But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;