Proverbs 28:4 Commentary and Bible Study

A good conscience is zealous for the law of God, applied first to itself but also to the whole world. Because it cares about the honour of God, it feels pain whenever his name is dishonoured and takes responsibility for upholding his standards even in a fallen world. It cannot bear to see any part of God’s creation in rebellion against him or flaunting his commandments. It is the will of God to hold back evil through the institution of government until his purposes for this world are complete. The law of God acts as a restraint on sin to prevent the world boiling over into undiluted depravity, and within their sphere of influence Christians should fulfil their role as the salt of the earth. Of course that sphere is enlarged in the case of those called into authority whether it be through family, education, or government. As a by-product of their lives in the world Christians have a preserving effect on the world, not to bring about righteousness acceptable to God, but to slow down the process of decay.Does this mean that the church has a command from God to change society at large? No, the Christian should certainly not think the gospel is intended to bring about of the moral reform of society, while leaving men and women unconverted and therefore still slaves to sin, or that the reform of unbelieving society is included in the great commission. The gospel could never be content with merely bringing about a change in the outward behaviour of those who have not come to faith. While sin rules in the heart, before people are converted, only a limited amount of moral improvement is possible. Paul told the Corinthians, ‘But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth’ (1 Corinthians 5:11-13). Since God will judge them that are without – that is the unbelieving world – then even though Christians are grieved at seeing the way unbelievers behave, they are not responsible for their reform. Without the gospel we have no effective tools to reform them, for this can only be done by the Spirit creating a new nature in the heart. We can perhaps restrain them and leave them without excuse by our witness, but we are not to depress ourselves by taking on a task God has never told us to take on and which must surely fail.The gospel has a far more radical effect than simply altering outward behaviour. It powerfully changes people from the inside by the work of the Spirit in regeneration. The new birth produces a genuine obedience to God which can never be achieved by moral reform. What God’s people long for is the day when Christ brings the world to an end and establishes his perfect government over all creation. Then there will be no more rebellion, no more blasphemy of his name, no more questioning of his wisdom and breaking of his laws, but his throne shall be established in righteousness. Christians strive with the wicked when they set before them an example of godliness which awakens the conscience of the unbeliever, but how far this will be successful is up to the Lord. Some Christians may be called into apposition of greater authority and as private individuals they may try to influence society for good by reminding the world of God’s moral standards, but that is not a responsibility God has given to the church.