There Is No Fear
March 2023 |
Wickedness and lawlessness abound in our time. Scarcely can one view popular news sources without having his spirit assaulted by the ungodly acts of those who deny God and His standard of righteousness. How is it possible that modern civilization has digressed to such a vile state? One of the key reasons is, “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:18).
THE FEAR OF GOD
Fearing God is essential in living a holy and acceptable life. Unless we live with the knowledge of an accountability to God, there is no incentive to resist the desires of the flesh. The results are found in the modern mantra, “If it feels good, do it!” In other words, “There is no accountability. There is no God.”
FEAR VS. DREAD
There is a God, and we are to fear Him. A godly fear acknowledges who He is and His divine authority to bless the righteous and judge the wicked. It understands that as the Creator of heaven and earth, all of creation answers to Him. Dreading God, on the other hand, indicates a religious spirit manifested in an incorrect understanding of who God is and His desire for mankind.
THE BEGINNING WISDOM
Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Throughout the Scriptures, there is a continuous comparison between the righteous and the wicked. The righteous are presented as being wise and the wicked as being foolish.
THE SPIRIT OF GOD
The fear of the Lord begins the process of wisdom, and the Holy Spirit adds to that understanding. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will “reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:8-11).
With godly wisdom produced through godly fear, we understand that there is a penalty for sin. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
THE ROLE OF FEAR IN SALVATION
The fear of God brings a discontent in our soul. We no longer feel secure in our ability to live life on our terms without impunity (punishment). For some, fear produces a cessation to sin. They attempt to stop what they now know as evil. However, this does not automatically mean that they are saved. If they never sinned again, they still are liable for the sins already committed. Therefore, they need a Savior.
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation is clearly based on believing in the completed work of Calvary and not through our own works. Jesus’ death on the cross was full payment for sin. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:11-13).
Jesus is the only hope for a world where there is no fear of God.
|
|
