Tag Archives: Philippians 2:12

Christian

Counting Crowns

I have seen several television personalities wrongly divide the word of God. They see in the Holy Bible separate judgments for salvation and rewards for works.

I have read the entire Bible several times and see only one judgment. It’s the only one that truly matters. Are you saved? Or will you be damned?

You can count your chickens before they’re hatched or you can work out you own salvation with fear and trembling.

Even if I’m wrong about no separate judgments for believers and unbelievers, there is one thing you should keep in mind: if you’re not saved you don’t have to worry about rewards at the Bema Seat. If you are saved, blessings and rewards are at the right hand of God forevermore.

The only crown that matters is the Crown of Life given to the saved.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

In The Mix

Give me the Bible
Holy message shining,
Thy light shall guide me
In the narrow way.
Precept and promise,
Law and love combining,
‘Til night shall vanish
In eternal day.

So what does the Bible so beautifully reveal to us that the above song clearly commemorates? Jesus combined the law and love, teaching us by his example how to live out the law with love. Likewise, the promise of salvation carries with it certain precepts. Salvation is a mix of you and God. It’s not Jesus’s sacrifice alone. Philippians 2:12 KJV says, … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And James 1:22 KJV adds, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jesus died teaching us how to follow the Father. Although he is the ultimate sacrifice for our sin, salvation does require effort on our part. We have to accept Jesus as Messiah. We have to repent and be baptized by immersion in water by another in Jesus name or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We have to strive to not sin. We have to confess future sins after baptism and forsake them. We have to confess Jesus and teach others the Gospel. We have to remain faithful until death. And finally, as we are blessed, do it all with love.

That may sound like a long list of works. Jesus never said we could do nothing and go to Heaven, he did promise us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

Standard
Christian

Really

He didn’t really mean it.

Many people simply won’t take Jesus at his word?

Does fear of the Lord mean reverential awe and respect? Jesus said, in Matthew 10:28 KJV, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

I tell you he meant it.

In Matthew 5:29-30 KJV Jesus said,
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Mark 9:45-46 KJV he likewise said,
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: [46] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Many say he didn’t really mean it.

I tell you he meant it.

Standard
Christian

Fearless

One of the ladies on WayFM offered a short sermon during the morning show. She proceeded to tell the listeners that fear of God means respect and awe similar to the way we feel about the Grand Canyon.

I tell you no. Fear means fear.

Philippians 2:12 KJV … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Matthew 10:28 KJV And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Fear of the second death helps keep me on the straight and narrow. If you’re a sinner may I suggest fear first, in addition to holding God in respect and awe.

If you truly want to be fearless, love God and keep his Commandments.

1 John 4:18 KJV There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

A More Excellent Way

Should we fear the Lord? Does fear mean terror or simply to hold in awe?

Once again, this Sunday, another preacher said we are to hold the Lord in awe and reverence. God doesn’t want us to be afraid of him, the preacher continued, He is simply too kind of a God to want us to fear Him.

Well, that’s what most preachers say these days, but what does Jesus say?

In Matthew 10:28 KJV, Jesus said, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

What else does the Bible say? In Philippians 2:12 KJV, Paul says, … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

So what does this mean to us? Fear actually means fear. It means to be afraid. It’s still a good idea to hold God in awe and reverence, but if you are not walking in the light, it is also a good idea to actually fear the Lord, who can send you to Hell for all eternity.

So what is the better way? 1 John 4:18 KJV says, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Unfortunately people including preachers want to skip a step. Those who are still sinning are not and cannot be in perfect love with the Lord. In fact if you are still sinning you should absolutely fear the Lord. It may cause you to turn from sin and save your soul.

There are many verses concerning fear of the Lord, especially in Psalms and Proverbs. If you love the Lord and keep his commandments you are walking in perfect love. Be faithful till the end and there is no need to fear. Salvation is ours!

Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV says … Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Proverbs 9:10 KJV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Scared Straight

I keep hearing preachers defining the “Fear of the Lord” as reverential awe. In my opinion this downplays what we know in our heart the word fear actually means.

According to Merriam Webster it can mean reverential awe, but it also means anxious concern and reason for alarm.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28 KJV, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Paul said in Philippians 2:12 KJV
Wherefore, my beloved, … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Does that sound like reverential awe or does it sound like what you know in your heart fear means, it means I’m afraid. I’m scared. My eternal salvation is in jeopardy if I continue in sin.

Jude 1:23 KJV says, And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

There is certainly a place for reverential awe. There is also a time and place for realizing eternity is at stake, a time for reasonable, genuine fear.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Scared Straight

There seems to be a movement to lessen the meaning and strength of all the times in the Holy Bible when it says we are to fear the Lord.

This movement pins its hope on the definition of fear being reverential awe. These doubters would mislead us and seem to think reverential awe doesn’t actually mean to be afraid of or fearful of God. Let’s look at what Jesus has to say on the subject. In Matthew 10:28 KJV Jesus says, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

In Philippians 2:12 KJV Paul adds … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

There is certainly a place for understanding that God is our Heavenly Father and that perfect love casteth out fear. There is also a place for those of us who understand it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of our living God. Hebrews 10:31.

Standard