Treasures New and Old

Christian Behavior: Integrity: A Higher Calling

– Romans 6:4

So far we have looked at the new creatures that we who are believers in Christ have become, and we looked at the fact that we are now children of God and children of the King – Jesus Christ. Let’s now say a few words about Christian maturity as it relates to living a life of integrity. God has called us to live by a higher standard than the rest of the world – one described over and over in the Bible. God desires us to “be ye holy as I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16 and numerous other places.). We are to “press toward the mark of the high calling”. Philippians 3:13-14: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s look into this character quality called integrity – definitely a higher calling!

Definition of integrity (American Dictionary of the English Language)

1. Wholeness ; entireness ; unbroken state . . .
2. The entire, unimpaired state of any thing, particularly of the mind ; moral soundness or purity ; incorruptness ; uprightness ; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special references to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others . . .
3. Purity ; genuine, unadulterated, unimpaired state . . .

Synonyms for integrity

• truthful, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, uprightness, goodness, honesty, moral, probity, rectitude, righteousness, virtuous, incorruptible, faithful, unfeigned

Antonyms for integrity

• false, disingenuous, debauchery, untrustworthy, insincere, undependable, dishonest, hedonist, corrupt, dishonorable, infamous, discreditable, debased, perfidy, guile, craftiness, deceitful, feigned, hypocritical

Old Testament Bible verses regarding integrity

These are but a few verses regarding integrity in the OT. Lots of additional verses can be found in Isaiah, Psalms, Proverbs, Daniel, Ezekiel, Genesis, Zachariah, Micah, 1 & 2 Samuel, and many others.

Examples of those displaying integrity in the OT include: Abraham (most of the time), Isaac, Joseph, Daniel, King David (but also the opposite!), Abimelech, many of the prophets, and others.

• Genesis 20:5-6: “Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.”
  

•  1 Kings 9:4: “And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:”
  

• Job 2:3: “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.”
  

• Job 2:9: “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”
  

• Job 27:5: “God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.”
  

• Job 31:6: “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.”
  

• Psalm 7:8: “The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.”

• Psalm 25:21: “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.”
  

• Psalm 26:1: “A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.”
  

• Psalm 26:11: “But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.”
  

• Psalm 41:12: “And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face forever.”

• Psalm 78:72: “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.”
  

• Proverbs 11:3: “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”
  

• Proverbs 19:1: “Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.”
  

• Proverbs 20:7: “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”
  

God demands our loyalty. He seeks people who put Him first above everything and everyone else in their life:

Integrity in the Old Testament (the English word integrity is not in the King James’ New Testament), is the word tom pronounced “to-me”. There are several English words that it was translated into, and the definition is as follows:

• Integrity, upright, uprightly, uprightness, venture, full, perfect, perfection, simplicity (Wordsearch’s Strong’s H8537).
• Definition: “From <H8552> (tamam); completeness; figurative prosperity; usually (moral) innocence :- full, integrity, perfect (-ion), simplicity, upright (-ly, -ness), at a venture. See <H8550> (Tummiym)” (Wordsearch’s Strong’s H8537).

Integrity in the New Testament (bold below added)

• Luke 6:31: “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Do-unto-others principle.)
  

• Luke 16:10: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.“
  

• John 1:47: “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!“

• Acts 23:1: “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.”
  

• Acts 24:16: “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.”
  

• Romans 9:1: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,”
  

• Romans 13:1: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
  

• Romans 13:5: “Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.”
  

• 2 Corinthians 4:2: “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.”
  

• 2 Corinthians 8:21: “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”
  

• Ephesians 6:6-7: “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:”
  

• Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
  

• Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
  

• 1 Thessalonians 4:1-6:
  

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

• 1 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:”
  

• 1 Timothy 3:8-9: “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”
  

• 1 Timothy 5:7-8: “And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
  

• Titus 1:6-9: “If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 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 gainsaysers.”
  

• Titus 2:1-8:
  

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

• Hebrews 13:6-7: “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

• Hebrews 13:18: “Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.”

• James 1:22-25: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

• James 4:17: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

• 1 Peter 2:12: “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
  

• 1 Peter 3:16: “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”
  

• 1 John 4:7: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
  

Example of one who had no integrity:

• Acts 8:18-23:
  

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in all the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Men who stood in their integrity:

• Paul and Barnabas: Acts 14:12-15 (bold added):
  

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

• King David: Psalm 25:20-21: “O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.”

• Job: Job 27:4-6: “My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.”
  
• Job 2:9-10: “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

• Joseph: Genesis 39:8-9: “But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

• Daniel: Daniel 1:8: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings’ meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
  

• Anyone who walks uprightly: Ezekiel 18:5-8:
  

But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbor’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his band from iniquity, hath executed true judgement between man and man,

• Those who wish to please God: Micah 6:8: “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
  

• Nehemiah: Nehemiah 5:14-19:
  

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bore rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. Moreover there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us. Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

What can we conclude?

1. That God expects us to carry out our lives with integrity
   
2. Many in the Bible exhibited integrity even in the face of adversity
3. God honors those who walk in integrity
4. Integrity equates to uprightness and living a life of holiness, honesty, and responsibility both ethically, and morally
5. By God’s standard, integrity means having a clear and good conscience before God and man
6. The Christian who walks in integrity is, indeed, walking according to a higher calling!
7. Only those in Jesus Christ – and with His help – have any real chance to walk in true integrity.

Maranatha!

May God bless you all!

Bro. Joe

Strong, J. Strong’s Talking Greek_Hebrew Dictionary. Wordsearch. (2020). Wordsearch Bible. [computer software] . Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources. (Original work published 1890).

Webster, Noah. Noah Webster’s First Edition of an American Dictionary of the English Language Facsimile Fifth Edition. San Francisco, CA now at Chesapeake Bay, VA: The Foundation for American Christian Education. 1987. (Original work published 1828)

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