Listening to a christian radio station this morning. Thespeaker was talking about fear. He was saying things we fear like success, past, future, failure, whatever isnt from God but from the devil himself. What about the fear of going to hell?
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I rather have a bad day in the woods then a good day at work
It is called God Fearing, we are to stand in awe of Him and listen to His commands. We are to have a personal relationship with God, like a father, Okay whena father tells his son to behave and the son behaves because he knows he will be disciplined and he wants to please his father, that is a form of fear, but it is a good fear because it helps us adhere to the morals that God has instilled in us. Does that make sense?
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. ecclesiastes 12:13
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 1 peter 2:17
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. Revelation 14:7
There is a few scriptures that might help. Not my words but his.
What motivates you to live a godly life? Some church people today are motivated out of fear that they might not really be saved. Others are motivated out of fear that they might lose their salvation. Although one is Arminian and one Reformed in their theological perspectives, both are motivated to obey God out of fear of hell.
The Scriptures do not support either of these views. When we place our faith in Christ He forgives all of our sins-past, present, and future (Col. 2:13; Heb. 10:1-18). The Holy Spirit seals us forever (Eph. 13-14). Jesus guarantees that He will not lose even one believer (John 5:24; 6:39; 10:27-29; 17:2). Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ (Rom. 8:38-39).
In addition, assurance of salvation is the birthright of every believer (John 3:16; 4:14; 5:24; 11:25-27; Rom.8:38-39; 1 John 5:13). The newest babe in Christ can and should know with certainty that he is eternally secure.
Fear of hell is a good motivation to trust in Christ. However, once we trust in Him, we know that we will never perish (John 3:16) and that we never need fear hell again. To continue to fear hell is to doubt that Jesus has forgiven us.
Rev I agree with you about fearing hell. There is no reason for a born again christian to fear hell. I still Fear God. Not him casting me into hell but I fear disappointing him. I serve him out of love and reverance for him, much like the bond servants who served their masters out of love. I fear disappointing God. I am even afraid of sinning by accident against God. Not because I think he will take away my salvation, his assurance is clear on that in romans. I just fear disappointing or being a stumbling block for my brother. One of my biggest fears is that I will disobey him and by that disobediance will have missed an oppertunity to reach someone. A fear of God is a good thing, A fear of hell is something that should not be an issue for someone that is saved.
Fred, there are legitimate fears and illegitimate ones. Fear is an emotion, and in the right circumstances , it can save your life or keep you from making a bad decision, etc. If you fear something that isn't truly a threat, or that doesn't exist, except inside of your mind then that would be an irational fear. The Bible also says that God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love , and of a sound mind. You don't have a sound mind when you fear the irrational. He gives us the capacity to be authoritative and confident in our lives(authority) and gives us the ability to give and receive love which dispels all fear--pefect love casts outfear, or displaces it.Scripture also says that He has not given us a spirit of fear but of adoption, whereby we cry , Abba, father. This is speaking of a fear of being abandoned or left without a true belonging or someone to call our real Father--being illegitimate. Being in right relation to the father removes the reasons for fear.The fear of God isn't on the same plane. Proverbs says that the fear of God is teh beginning or starting point of wisdom. So, those who don't fear Him, as teh scripture says are fools--they are kidding themselves. A fool has said in his heart, that there is no God. There is an element of fear, in the sense of being afraid, when we speak Of God, but as the others have said, being in Christ removes that fear, because we are His children. What we are left with is an awesome sense of reverance and respect for who He is, and a respect for His ultimate and final authority in our lives and the world as a whole.
Btw--was that program by Dr Michael Yussef that you heard? Ilistened to him yesterday,and it sounds like what he spoke about. He mentioned his ordeal while he was still in Egypt and was miraculously delivered from being killed for his faith in a Muslim country.
fear its not God
