Integrity
A. A WORD RARELY USED – MISUNDERSTOOD.
B. INTEGRITY IS NOT IMPORTANT TO MANY.
tom ; completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually (morally) innocence: (Strong's Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.)
Tamam sometimes expresses moral and ethical "soundness" (Vine's Dictionary)
integrity, completeness ( Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon.)
Integrity: “The quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty, and sincerity” (Webster) –implies an incorruptible soundness of moral character, esp. as displayed in fulfilling trusts [elect men of integrity].
C. MORAL INNOCENCE, MORAL AND ETHICAL SOUNDNESS COMPLETENESS.
1. Uprightness – righteousness.
2. Honesty, - sincerity implies consistency of life with beliefs and profession.
3. Hypocrisy is in opposition – so is moral weakness.
D. OUR PSALM HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT INTEGRITY.
INTEGRITY INVOLVES:
A. OUR RELIGION IS “FAITH-BASED.”
1. Hebrews 11:6 è Belief that he is and he is a rewarder (2 Tim. 2:11-13).
2. Our motivation (2 Cor. 5:7 è vs. 1).
B. WHAT IS BELIEVED IS AS IMPORTANT AS BELIEVING IT.
1. Salvation is in belief of the truth (2 Thess. 2:13).
2. Our doctrine is called “the faith” (Jude 3).
C. INTEGRITY DEMANDS THAT WE DO NOT WAVER IN OUR FAITH:
1. By disbelief.
a. There is plenty of evidence (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
b. But there is plenty of distraction (Matt. 13:22).
2. By acting inconsistently with what we believe (Phil. 1:27; Prov. 23:23).
A. GOD WILL JUDGE US IN THE END (2 Cor. 5:10).
1. Judgment will determine destiny (Matt. 25:46).
2. Jesus will be the standard (Acts 17:30-31).
B. GOD KNOWS OUR HEARTS NOW.
1. We want God to see the innocence of our hearts (Psa. 139:23-24).
2. We need to examine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5).
A. HE KNOWS THE GIFT OF MERCY GOD GIVES.
1. Every good gift – constant true (James 1:17).
2. Salvation (Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:9-10).
B. THAT KNOWLEDGE COMPELLS HIM TO WALK IN GOD’S TRUTH.
1. Truth is the summation of God’s word (Psa. 119:142, 151, 160).
2. Walking involves the way we live – obedience (Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 5:14-15).
A. DAVID IS ESPECIALLY CONSCIOUS OF THE DANGER AND SHAME INVOLVED IN FELLOWSHIPPING EVIL AND ERROR (Psa. 1:1-2)
B. BEWARE THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES! (Matt. 16:11-12; Gal. 5:7-9).
C. WE MUST DISAPPROVE OF AND DISAVOW SIN AND FALSEHOOD (Psa. 119:104; Eph. 5:11; Rom. 16:17-18).
A. I LOVE THE HABITATION OF THY HOUSE (vs. 8; Matt. 6:19-21, 33; 13:44-46).
B. I WILL WASH MY HANDS (vs. 6).
1. I am going to clean up my life (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 John 1:6-7).
2. I will prepare myself for service (2 Tim. 2:19-21; Heb. 12:28-29).
C. ONLY SO CAN WE BE A LIGHT TO OTHERS (vs. 7; Matt. 5:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:11-12).
A. IT IS A FEARFUL THING (Heb. 10:31; Matt. 10:28).
B. DAVID HUNGERED FOR JUSTIFICATION (Matt. 5:6; Psa. 51:7-12).
C. THERE IS BLESSEDNESS IN FORGIVENESS (Psa. 32:1-2; Rom. 6:21).
A. BEING RIGHT WITH GOD REQUIRES COMMITMENT
1. Jesus as an example (1 Pet. 2:21-23; 4:19)
2. He won’t guard that which is not committed (2 Tim. 1:12).
B. RIGHT IS FOUND IN GOD’S WORD (John 8:12; Psa. 19:9; 119:105, 137-138, 142, 144).
C. 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
A. AN EVEN PLACE – LEVEL GROUND WHERE ONE MIGHT STAND CONFIDENTLY.
B. HE WILL PROCLAIM HIS GRATITUDE IN PRAISE OF THE FATHER.
