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Integrity 2019
Bible passages related to integrity Assembled from my other integrity documents 7/26/2019
Last Edit December 3, 2019 Greg Clements
© 2019 by Greg Clements Permission is granted to copy and distribute this document as long as no fee of any kind is charged and this copyright notice is included in the document.
Bible quotes from the Amplified (AMP) (made available by the Lockman Foundation at biblegateway.com) or NET (NET) Bible. THE NET BIBLE, NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, COPYRIGHT © 1996 BY BIBLICAL STUDIES PRESS, L.L.C. This Bible is a free download from www.bible.org. The First edition without notes is free from https://netbible.com/download. The second edition with notes is $4.95 download as of 2018. The NET 2nd edition can be read online for no cost at https://netbible.org/bible/Romans+1 (starts at Romans Chapter 1).
Genesis 20:3-7 (NET) “3 But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation? 5 Did Abraham not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!”
6 Then in the dream God replied to him, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her. 7 But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don’t give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.” “
(glc) Having integrity (good motivation) leads God to intervene on our behalf.
1 Kings 9:1-9 (NET) “After Solomon finished building the Lord’s temple,..., and all the other construction projects he had planned, 2 the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, .... 3 The Lord said to him, “I have answered your prayer and your request for help that you made to me. I have consecrated this temple you built by making it my permanent home; I will be constantly present there. 4 You must serve me with integrity and sincerity, just as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations. 5 Then I will allow your dynasty to rule over Israel permanently, just as I promised your father David, ‘You will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
6 “But if you or your sons ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, ..., 7 then I will remove Israel from the land I have given them, I will abandon this temple I have consecrated with my presence, .... 8 This temple will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by it will be shocked and will hiss out their scorn, saying, ‘Why did the Lord do this to this land and this temple?’ 9 Others will then answer, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God, who led their ancestors out of Egypt….”
(glc) We should not take God’s blessings for granted. God’s blessings are more than material things. We live in a fallen world and bad things do happen to good people. But I trust in God that things work out for good for those who trust in God (Romans 8:28)
2 Kings 12:13-16 The treasurers had a reputation of being honest. They could be trusted.
I (glc) served as treasurer of Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church (Now called Full LIfe Church) in Fremont, Nebraska from about 1988 to 2004 and continued on the church board until 2014. I tried to always have a second person help me count the Sunday offerings. I handled the church funds with integrity because I knew I was handling God’s money (and because having integrity was the right thing to do). I don’t think there was ever an audit, but the checkbook was open to inspection by any board member and we gave an annual report to the congregation of the offerings and payments.
1 Chronicles 29:17 (NET) “17 I know, my God, that you examine thoughts and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you. “
(glc) Offerings were being gathered for the building of the temple. God knows our motivations. God wants us to have integrity.
Nehemiah 7:2 (NET) “2 I then put in charge over Jerusalem my brother Hanani and Hananiah the chief of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many do.”
(glc) There is a connection between being faithful (having integrity) and having a reverent fear of God. The combination can be recognized by others, and can be used by God for his service.
Job 2:3-10 (NET) “3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil. And he still holds firmly to his integrity, so that you stirred me up to destroy him without reason.”
4 But Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life! 5 But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!” 6 So the Lord said to Satan, “All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and he afflicted Job with a malignant ulcer from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Job took a shard of broken pottery to scrape himself with while he was sitting among the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God, and die!” 10 But he replied, “You’re talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?” In all this Job did not sin by what he said.” “
(glc) Integrity is worth holding on to.
Job 27:5 I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
The following are verses you should read and think about the subject of integrity.
Psalms text probably NIV
7:8 Let the LORD judge the peoples. Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.
25:21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.
41:12 In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.
78:72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.
119:1 How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psalm 1: 1 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of [b]scoffers (ridiculers). 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. (AMP)
Psalm 101: 2 I will walk in the way of integrity. When will you come to me? I will conduct my business with integrity in the midst of my palace. 3 I will not even consider doing what is dishonest. I hate doing evil; I will have no part of it. (NET)
Psalm 101: 2I will behave wisely and follow the way of integrity. When will You come to me? I will walk in my house in integrity and with a blameless heart. 3 I will set no worthless or wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the practice of those who fall away [from the right path]; It will not grasp hold of me. (AMP)
Proverbs text probably NIV
2:1 - 11 listen to wisdom… understand the fear of the Lord…Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity-every good path…discretion will protect you
3:3 – 4 Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you…. you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
10:9 The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
11:3-5 The integrity of the upright guides them, …The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
12:22 Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are His delight.
Proverbs 13:6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
16:11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord's;
19:1 Better a poor man who walks in integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.
20:7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity-- How blessed are his sons after him.
21:3 To do righteousness and justice is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.
22:1 A {good} name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.
28:6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
29:10 Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
Isaiah 6:4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, and the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am ruined,
Because I am a man of [ceremonially] unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Listen carefully, this has touched your lips; your wickedness [your sin, your injustice, your wrongdoing] is taken away and your sin atoned for and forgiven.” (AMP)
Matthew 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;28 but I say to you that everyone who [so much as] looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (AMP)
Mark 12:14 (NET) “14 When they came they said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone’s favor, because you show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.”
(glc) Integrity includes being truthful, not looking to please certain people, and, following and teaching God’s ways.
Luke 16:10-13 (NET) “10 “The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you haven’t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? 12 And if you haven’t been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” “
(glc) Establish habits of integrity and you will naturally do right in many situations.
Acts 24:15,16 (NET) “ 15 I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people.”
(glc) Our trust in God should help us to have integrity.
Romans 6:6 We know that our old [c]self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. 7 For the person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin. (AMP)
Romans 7:21 So I find it to be the law [of my inner self], that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully delight in the law of God in my inner self [with my new nature], 23 but I see a different law and rule of action in the members of my body [in its appetites and desires], waging war against the law of my mind and subduing me and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is within my members. 24 Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]? 25 Thanks be to God [for my deliverance] through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind serve the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness, my sinful capacity—I serve] the law of sin.. (AMP)
1 Corinthians 6:18 Run away from sexual immorality [in any form, whether thought or behavior, whether visual or written]. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the one who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? 20 You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body. (AMP)
1 Corinthians 10: 8 We must not indulge in [nor tolerate] sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell [dead] in a single day! (AMP)
2 Corinthians 10: 3 For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. 4 The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, (AMP)
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. (AMP)
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things], 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts]; (AMP)
Philippians 4:8 Finally, [b]believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. (AMP)
Philippians 4:8,9 (NET) “8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. 9 And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.”
(glc) Fill your mind with good things and you will have less opportunity or thoughts about inappropriate things. Your integrity will set a good example for others.
1 Thessalonians 4:Finally, believers, we ask and admonish you in the Lord Jesus, that you follow the instruction that you received from us about how you ought to walk and please God (just as you are actually doing) and that you excel even more and more [pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]. 2 For you know what commandments and precepts we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor [being available for God’s purpose and separated from things profane], 5 not [to be used] in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God and are ignorant of His will; 6 and that [in this matter of sexual misconduct] no man shall transgress and defraud his brother because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we have told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness [to be dedicated, and set apart by behavior that pleases Him, whether in public or in private]. 8 So whoever rejects and disregards this is not [merely] rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you [to dwell in you and empower you to overcome temptation]. (AMP)
Hebrews 13:18 (NET) 18 “ Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.”
(glc) It is easier to ask others to pray for you when you have integrity. It is easier for others to pray for you when they have confidence in your intentions.
1 Peter 2:11,12 (NET) “11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 12 and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrong doers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.”
(glc) The world wants you to abandon God and please yourself. As a Christian you are a child of God and your citizenship is in heaven. We should live on Earth as a foreigner who does not identify with the fleshly, worldly, desires. Your good conduct (integrity) is a witness to non-Christians that can lead them to accept Jesus.
1 Peter 3:14-17 (NET) “”14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. 15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.
(glc) Having integrity does not mean you will not have troubles in this (fallen) world. Having integrity provides a witness to those who would condemn you.
Read the following passages on how people did not have integrity.
a) Think about the temptation; b) the reaction or decision; c) decision and reaction when sin was found out; Did the person sincerely repent or provide rationalization or excuses?; d) What were the short-term or long-term consequences?
Adam and Eve Genesis 3:6-19
Cain and Abel Genesis 4:3-12
David and Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11, 2 Samuel 12:1-18
Solomon and his wives 1 Kings 11:4-13
Ananias and Sapphira Acts 4:32 – 5:11
Read the following passages on how people DID have integrity and think about a) the temptation; b) the reaction or decision; c) decision and reaction when sin was found out; Did the person sincerely repent or provide rationalization or excuses?; d) What were the short-term or long-term consequences?
Jacob, acted right with Laban’s property Genesis 31:38-44
Joseph, acted rightly with Potiphar’s wife Genesis 39:6-21; 40:15, 41:39-40
David, had remorse for cutting Saul's robe 1 Samuel 24:1-22
Daniel, refused to eat the royal food Daniel 1:8-20
Daniel, maintain a good character and follow God
Have right actions when you are alone Daniel 6:1-27
Paul and Barnabas, when the people of Lystra desired to deify them Acts 14:8-22
(glc) Some people don't like integrity in others.
Peter, when offered money by Simon Magus Acts 8:18-25
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