What it means to fear
GOD, and three mechanisms for the expressions of divine displeasure and wrath
are considered. Also, from the King James Version of the Bible, there is a
presentation summarizing the full gospel. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the
ID “Peter” (Level 2 with 581 points, a member since April 11, 2011) posted the
following:
Why do we have to fear
god?
I always hear people say we need to fear god. Why?
Is he mean?
THE BATTLE AXE: And This
Was Good News (12/01/2012)—The many points of truth that comprise the full
gospel carry equal weight, and are all crucial to a complete, correct experience
of GOD revealed through the person of Jesus Christ. The good news goes far
beyond that “he is risen.” Consider again: For unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace
there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,
to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth
even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform
this (Isaiah 9: 6-7). And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld,
he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight (Acts 1: 9). If
we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means
he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised
from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
(Acts 4: 9). My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin
not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world (1st John 2: 1-2). For by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit (1st Corinthians 12: 13). There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are
all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3: 28). Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1st John 3:
2). For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord (1st Thessalonians 4: 16-17). And I saw a new heaven and
a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and
there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down
from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I
heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with
men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself
shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed
away (Revelation 21: 1-4). But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and
all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death (Revelation 21: 8).
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a
just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the
holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the
years of thy life shall be increased. (Proverbs 9: 9-11, King James
Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Fear
of GOD (10/30/2012); Saved in Childbearing? (10/31/2012); Binder 13: Where Is
My Fear? (10/10/2012); Believing Everything? (11/23/2012); How To Have
Conviction (11/24/2012); Why Courage? (10/14/2012); GOD Violent?
(01/22/2011)
Many mature Christian believers now
understand that the word “fear” as it appears in the Bible does not always mean
“to be afraid,” “to be frightened,” or “to be scared.” “Fear” is also used to
describe the proper attitude of believers toward GOD as Creator and sovereign
over all existence. Fear, then, is right respect, proper humility, and a
correct awareness that GOD is awesome, endued with all power (i.e., omnipotent)
and “terrible.”
The spirit content of divinity does not
include feelings of anger that (in humans) come and go, may flare up in a
moment, and may fizzle out and quietly disappear. Cruelty, lack of
self-control, malice, and violence that derive mostly from appetite, sensation
and desire (called the flesh) are not aspects of the divine nature. Yet, wrath
against sin is a constant and permanent aspect of divine person, and is
inseparable from such sacred substance as holiness, humility, joy,
longsuffering, love, righteousness, and wisdom. Even after all sin will have
been eliminated through judgment and the second death, wrath against sin will
continue as an aspect of divine being.
The primary mechanisms for the expressions of
divine displeasure and wrath include (1) the outworking of ones own actions and
choices (we say consequences), (2) the admonitions and sanctions of divine law,
(3) the tools of death and degeneration, and (4) the lake of fire. These
features are activated and called into effect by created beings and living
creatures, and do not emerge by divine prerogative. GOD does not cause or force
men to confront these elements of reality, and in that sense, GOD remains
balanced, impartial, neutral, objective, righteous, and unbiased.
There is far more to be said, correctly
applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, obedient believers in
Christ are provided with faith that appears as confidence, courage and trust
when dealing with the things of GOD. The imparted, indwelling spirit from GOD
(called the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter) also supplies meekness
(willingness to learn the things revealed from GOD through Jesus) while blocking
deceit, indifference, presumption, and pride.) Even so, I trust this fragment
will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK
PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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