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God is both good and severe
Romans 1:22 “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God. On them which fell, severity. But toward thee, goodness IF thou continue in His goodness, otherwise thou also shall be cut off.”
Many today are saying God is good and only good, or God is good all the time! This suggests that in this time He will not cause harm or be severe. The danger I see in this is that there is absolutely nothing to fear from a God like that. But we are told many times throughout all Scripture to fear God!
Some are quick to quote I John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” These people need to learn that there are two types of fear used in Scripture. Fear of man or circumstances is what we are to refuse. II Tim. 1:7, “God has not given us a spirit of fear …” But fear of God is to be desired and sought after! Many blessings are connected with the fear of God! A short list is at the end. To fear God is to hate sin, to desire to be clean and pure in thought, word and deed. God delights in those people, Psa. 147:11 (KJV).
This first list of verses is to show that God has not changed from the Old Testament to the new.
Acts 12:23, And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost.
Acts 13:11, And now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.
Jude 5-7, I will therefore put you in remembrance though ye once knew this, how that the Lord having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha and the cities about them like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
I Cor. 10:6-11, Now these things were our examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Neither be idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
II Pet. 3:7, But the heavens and the earth which are now, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and the destruction of ungodly men.
Rom. 12:19, Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” says the Lord.
II Cor. 5:10-11 (KJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that which he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men ….
Luke 1:20, (Angel to Zachariah) “But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
Luke 12:4-5, “And I say unto you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell. Yes, I say unto you, fear Him!”
In Matt. 18:23-35 is a story by Jesus about forgiveness. Here is 34-35, And his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.
II Thess. 2:10-12, “…because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie, that they may all be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
In Acts 5, about Ananias and Sapphira being struck dead ~ realize this: When the glory is high, sin is more costly!
And we are NOT living in days of unlimited grace!
John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
Rom. 8: 13-14, “If you live according to the flesh, you will die. (see John 5:24). But if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
I John 2:29, “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”
John 14:23, “Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.’”
John 15:10, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
Here are more if you want to look them up on your own: John 14:21, I John 2:3, 15-17, 3:3-10, 5:3-4, 17-18, Titus 1:15-16, 2:11-14, 3:8, Col. 1:10, & Rom. 8:13-14.
Now having seen some of those, I want to end this brochure with a few of the many promises connected with the fear of God!
Prov. 3:7, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.”
Prov. 9:10-11, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by Me your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.”
Prov. 14:26-27, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence and his children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to turn one away from the snares of death.”
Psa. 34:9, “There is no lack to those who fear Him.”
Prov. 22:4, “The reward for humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life.” |
