|
|
|
Questions About The Fear of the Lord BY RYAN HICKS © 1996-1999 Ryan Hicks |
Question #1 - Do I Have To Fear The Lord In Order To Remain Saved?
Question #2 - Does not "fear", when it relates to God, only mean "to reverence?"
Question #3 - Did Jesus, as our example, fear God?
QUESTION #1
Do I have to fear the Lord in order to remain saved?
You must work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For one to claim to be a believer, and refuse to fear the Lord is a complete contradiction. The Bible says:
If you are a part of the assembly of the saints why would you not fear God? All true believer fear God, and will continue to fear God. The fear of the Lord will cause you to walk in holiness (Acts 9:31; 2 Corinthians 7:1), because you fear Him. You don't simply reverence Him like you would a human, rather you fear Him. Ecclesiastes 12:13
If you are going to live for God and serve Him in holiness you must fear God and keep His commandments. The truth is that all people who are born-again will fear God and keep His commandments. Those who mock the fear of the Lord are rebellious and of the devil. God is not pleased when people put Him on the same level as man, yet that is exactly what people do when they say that we don't have to fear God.
QUESTION #2
Does not "fear", when it relates to God, only mean "to reverence?"
Psalms 89:7
Ecclesiastes 5:7
QUESTION #3
Did Jesus, as our example [1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6], fear God?
Hebrews 5:4-10
John 14:10
As the Lord Jesus grew He was filled with wisdom and increased in wisdom. This alone proves that He feared God, because the word teaches:
Psalm 19:9
Philippians 2:12
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Psalm 89:7
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Absolutely not! This is a common false teaching in the church today. Rather than tell the truth that we are to fear God, most ministers teach that we are not to fear God, but should only reverence Him. Let's look at some Scriptures and please try reading them with and without the supposed "true meaning" of "reverence."
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about them.
7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Matthew 10:28
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 12:4-5
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Acts 9:31
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
2 Corinthians 7:1
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:21
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Hebrews 12:28-29
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
1 Peter 2:17
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Revelation 14:6-7
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Yes, He did! See The Bible says,
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Luke 12:4-5
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 14:24
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
John 5:30
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 6:38
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Luke 2:40
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Luke 2:52
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Job 28:28
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Psalm 111:10
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 9:10
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Proverbs 8:13
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 14:16
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
Proverbs 16:6
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
