A serious study of the Bible is the most important experience anyone has ever undertaken. This is because the Bible is the most important book in the world. It is like no other book. Over one billion copies of the Bible have been printed, and it has outsold and out circulated every other book since printing began.
I personally feel that it is unfortunate for both the church and the world that about 200 years ago an historical questioning of the Bible began that led to a revival of unbelief. This first began in Europe, and it soon spread to the U.S.A. Now in this 21st century we are seeing and hearing from progressive modernists bold arguments denouncing and denying any place for the Bible.
It is impossible to imagine what modern civilization would be like without the influence of the Bible. However, here in the western world it appears that all too many politicians, educators, and even some church leaders are questioning the authority of the Bible. Dr. Howard Kelly has pointed out “Where the Bible is dishonored, life becomes cheap.” The Bible is the Word of life. Everyone should read it until they realize that this Holy Book truly reveals that God’s provision for our eternal salvation can only come through our believing and trusting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
I personally feel that it is unfortunate for both the church and the world that about 200 years ago an historical questioning of the Bible began that led to a revival of unbelief. This first began in Europe, and it soon spread to the U.S.A. Now in this 21st century we are seeing and hearing from progressive modernists bold arguments denouncing and denying any place for the Bible.
It is impossible to imagine what modern civilization would be like without the influence of the Bible. However, here in the western world it appears that all too many politicians, educators, and even some church leaders are questioning the authority of the Bible. Dr. Howard Kelly has pointed out “Where the Bible is dishonored, life becomes cheap.” The Bible is the Word of life. Everyone should read it until they realize that this Holy Book truly reveals that God’s provision for our eternal salvation can only come through our believing and trusting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
In the Psalms we often read about “the fear of God.” In almost every case, the word “fear” has to do with warning unbelievers about the wrath of God for rejecting His Son as Savior.
I truly fear for the lost soul who has no respect for or fear of a loving God who would go to such extreme suffering to save us from eternal destruction Wise souls will take seriously what they read and humble themselves for prayer and repentance and faith in the One who can save: our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus asked a question that we should consider seriously— “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Time and again we read in the Bible that a human soul is foolish who neither fears God nor trusts Christ for his or her salvation from sin and Hell.
What a glorious miracle is a new birth experience! A resurrection from the grave of sin! Born again! Sins forgiven! Peace with God! Heaven bound! A child of God! A life of grace and growth in the power of the Holy Spirit if we walk in the light of God’s Word!
A study has been made revealing that when millions of Americans were asked where they believed they would go when they died, to Heaven or to Hell, for every 1 who believed they would go to Hell, 120 believed they would go to Heaven. But as a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I must level with my readers and declare this is a false optimism. For I read in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 7, verse 13 (NKJV) what Jesus said about most people: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
I’m reminded of a famous cemetery in Indianapolis, where I pastored a church years ago. There’s a tombstone about 150 years old with an amazing epitaph which thousands have viewed. It reads: “Pause, stranger, when you pass by; As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, you soon will be. So prepare for death and follow me.” But an unknown passerby had added the words below: “To follow you I’m not content, until I know which way you went!”
The fear of God is a healthy urge for a sinner’s call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. The fear of God is also essential for the believer’s call to holiness in living the Christian life by the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help the believer know how to pray, to obey, to witness, and to remain in readiness for either death or the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I never apologize for preaching or writing on “the fear of God.” May we all pray for the kind of revival that will bring the fear of God into the hearts of cold-hearted believers and in the hearts of millions of lost souls before it is too late!
Now I want to remind us that God not only sent His one and only righteous Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to prepare a way for us to be saved from sin and Hell. In doing so He robbed Heaven of its Star to come to earth and suffer rejection, temptation, opposition, prosecution, and crucifixion. Yes, Jesus was willing to die on an old rugged Cross while being mocked, sneered, spat on, and cursed. But while He endured the pain He suffered the shame, knowing Our Heavenly Father would gain a heritage and He would win a bride-–the church!
In the Old Testament there is the book of Job, in which he writes a hymn glorifying “the fear of God.” This whole narrative concerns a man whose name furnishes us the title of the book. It opens with a series of tragedies—all his possessions, together with his children, are taken from him. The question raised has to do with his integrity—will he throughout his suffering curse God or remain faithful? Hear his closing praise for those, including himself, who will maintain their fear of God, no matter what comes to pass to try their faith: He declares, as recorded in Job chapter 28, verse 28 (NIV): “The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” In the end, Job practiced what he preached; like the apostle Paul, he fought a good fight, kept the faith, and celebrated his “fear of God.”
In the Old Testament there is the book of Job, in which he writes a hymn glorifying “the fear of God.” This whole narrative concerns a man whose name furnishes us the title of the book. It opens with a series of tragedies—all his possessions, together with his children, are taken from him. The question raised has to do with his integrity—will he throughout his suffering curse God or remain faithful? Hear his closing praise for those, including himself, who will maintain their fear of God, no matter what comes to pass to try their faith: He declares, as recorded in Job chapter 28, verse 28 (NIV): “The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” In the end, Job practiced what he preached; like the apostle Paul, he fought a good fight, kept the faith, and celebrated his “fear of God.”
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