COMPROMISE
1. A wife told her husband that she had phoned the power company and complained about their bill.
2. When her husband asked what the power company said his wife said she had reached a compromise.
3. The power company would not get any more money, and the family would go without electricity.
ONE
OF THE WORDS THAT WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH IS COMPROMISE. THERE ARE TIMES IN LIFE WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO
MAKE COMPROMISES; SOME ARE GOOD AND SOME ARE NOT SO GOOD. IN THE BIBLE WE FIND THAT GOD HAS SOME THINGS
TO SAY CONCERNING COMPROMISE.
A. One of the places where we read about compromise is Jn. 12:42.
B. This is the passage that was read a few moments ago.
C. John said that many of the rulers “believed” on Jesus.
D. However, these people did not want to publicly acknowledge their belief.
2. In Jn. 12:42-43 we find people who tried to make a compromise.
3. These men did believe.
4. These men had found the right way and they realized it.
5. They also realized that telling people about their faith could pose some problems.
6. If they let others know about their belief they would no longer be welcome in the synagogue.
7. Thus, when it was time to acknowledge their faith these men stayed silent.
A. This silence was an attempt to make a compromise.
B. They had belief but they did not want to publicly acknowledge it.
C. The compromise that these men devised was unacceptable.
8. In the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5) Jesus said that His people are to be like light.
9. Light does not compromise with darkness.
10. When light shines into a dark place the darkness is dispelled (cast out).
11. Here is how the Lord described the citizens of the kingdom -- Mt. 5:14-16a – READ.
A. If we are a light we must shine.
B. Those who are a light cannot hide their faith if they want to please God.
C. Jesus said that a light in the house is to be seen by “all.”
D. In 16a He said to let our light “shine before men.”
12. The men in Jn. 12 did not want their faith to be seen by everyone.
13. They realized that if others learned of their belief they would be “put out of the synagogue.”
14. Their solution to this matter was a compromise: belief but not confession.
15. Today people still try to make compromises with God and the gospel.
A. We find compromises like the one described in Jn. 12.
B. Some believe and may even become a Christian.
C. After conversion people compromise by staying silent about who they are.
D. Others become Christians but they compromise in another way.
E. Some who acknowledge Christ never attend worship or are irregular about it.
F. This is a compromise, and it is not an unacceptable compromise.
G. Some buy a Bible but do not study it.
H. By not studying our copy of the scriptures people have given in to compromise.
16. In our day and time we find compromises concerning the church.
17. People teach part of the truth concerning the church’s organization, worship, and mission.
18. The whole truth about these areas is either not taught or overlooked.
19. People compromise on how the church is structured, how it worships, or what it does.
20. People make compromises on the subject of salvation.
21. Most will teach people to believe in the Lord, turn from sin, and even confess Christ.
22. Many
compromise on the final step—baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts
23. We find good people who try to compromise the creation account.
24. Those who believe in theistic evolution say that the creation was not 7 literal, 24 hour days.
25. God based the Sabbath day on a 7-day creation (Ex. 31:16-17).
26. There are scores of people who try to make compromises with the Christian life.
A. Some say that they wear the name of Christ.
B. The lives and works of these people are no different from the people in the world.
27. We find compromise in both the world and among the people of God.
A. This past week someone sent me an e-mail that told of a Christian wife.
B. According to the story this woman was in her home and someone knocked on the door.
C. She answered the door and this person said, “Does Jesus live here?”
D. This lady was a member of the church but she found that question difficult to answer.
E. She didn’t know what to say.
F. The man eventually walked away but his question lingered in the wife’s mind.
G. At supper that evening this wife told her husband about the visitor.
H. Her husband said, “You should have showed him the church directory; it has our name in it.”
I. “You could have told him that we send our children to Bible class. We sometimes go too.”
28. The wife said, “All those things are true, but he didn’t ask about these things.”
29. This wife realized that her family’s name was in the directory.
30. She knew where the church building was and that her family had been there at different times.
31. When she looked at her life and the life of her family she saw compromises.
32. THE NEW TESTAMENT
PRESENTS
A. Paul
said that Christians are “new creatures” (2 Cor.
B. Those
who have been buried with Christ in baptism have a new life (
C. Because of this new life God says that we are not to be “fashioned according to the world.”
D. God says that going back to the old way of life is a compromise.
E. This is a concession that is unacceptable.
F. In
1 Pet.
G. Peter told God’s people to “abstain” from these things.
H. In other words, “do not compromise.”
33. From the standpoint of morality God tells His people that there is no room for compromise.
34. This was why Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:58 “stand fast, be strong, behave like men.”
35. In the area of Christian living and Bible morality there is a standard to be adhered to.
36. God tells His people to watch out for and to stay away from the ways of the world.
37. One of the places where we find this expressed is 2 Tim. 2:4.
A. In this passage Paul drew an analogy from military life.
B. He spoke of a soldier.
C. This illustration is suitable for Christianity because God’s people are soldiers.
D. Here is what he said – 2 Tim. 2:4 – READ.
E. Soldiers are people who learn about compromise.
F. They are taught that compromise is unacceptable.
G. Those who serve in the armed services are not allowed to make compromises with the enemy.
H. Those in the military learn that compromise can lead to injury or death.
I. Those who compromise can expect to be punished.
J. Soldiers are taught to dedicate themselves to their mission.
I). This is the same message that Christians need to hear and heed.
K. We have been given some responsibilities in the area of Christianity living (morality).
L. God does not want us to make compromises in this area of life.
M. Morality is an area that is non-negotiable.
38. Our stand against compromise also extends into other areas.
39. It applies to doctrine.
40. When Paul wrote to the Ephesians (4:4-6) he spoke of seven different ones.
41. He said there is one body (church), Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and God and Father.
42. Some have tried to compromise the gospel.
43. Paul said there is one body (church) but compromisers say they are 2 or 2,000.
44. Paul said there is only one faith but compromisers speak of multiple faiths.
45. People in the world recognize many gods; they offer a compromise.
46. The Bible says there is only one.
47. Paul affirmed that when he wrote these words there is only one baptism.
48. Today we hear people talk about more than one.
49. In and out of the church there are people who try to compromise the truth of the gospel.
50. COMPROMISE IS BASED UPON MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
51. In Jn. 12:42-43 we find two different reasons for it.
52. The rulers tried to find a compromise because they were afraid.
53. They thought people would “put them out of the synagogue.”
54. Has anything changed?
55. Is it not the case that people try to compromise Christianity because of fear?
A. People fear that saying “one church” will scare people away.
B. In an attempt to appeal to others compromisers say that this is not true.
C. People are concerned that saying there is “one baptism” will offend people.
D. Compromisers say, “Let’s allow for more than one.”
E. Fear and compromise also go together in regard to Christian morality.
F. Some are worried that living as the Bible describes will make them an object of ridicule.
G. Fitting in with society will no longer be possible.
H. Thus, we have some members of the church who hide their light.
56. Like the men in Jn. 12, some acknowledge the Lord but they always keep their light covered.
57. If we are afraid to let our light shine we are guilty of compromise.
58. Jn. 12 also reminds us that compromise comes because people want friendship with the world.
59. James dealt with this problem a long time ago.
60. Here is what he had to say about it – Jas. 4:4 – READ.
61. What happens when people try to compromise their faith?
62. God says that they are an “adulteress” and an “enemy of God.”
63. A compromised faith is not a Christian faith.
64. Are we committed to standing against compromise?
65. Have we given in to compromise and need to return to the way that God’s word describes?