-Why should we fear God?

1) Because of who God is:

§ We were ransomed by God in flesh who conquered the enemy and is victorious

§ All power and authority is has been given to Jesus

2) Because of who we are (becoming)

§ We are born again and adopted as obedient children

§ He who adopted us is Holy

§ God allows us to call Him Holy

§ The Holy one who allows us to call on Him as Father judges justly

§ Fearing God is better than the alternative; the fear people compromises the holy living we’re called to

§ Scripture talks of fear and holiness simultaneously:

· 1 Peter 3:15

· 2 Corinthians 7:1

· Romans 11:20

P.J. (Flip) Buys:

§ The true fear of God is a child-like fear. Some of the Puritans used to call it a "filial fear." It is a combination of holy respect and glowing love.

§ True fear of God is not a fear that makes a person run away and flee from God. It is a fear that drives him to God. Love for God and fear of Him are, therefore, not at all incompatible.

§ Responding appropriately to Him, stretches our emotional capacities to their limit. Scripture portrays the fear of the Lord and the love of the Lord as companion emotions.

Bruce K. Waltke:

§ Scripture presents the “love of the Lord” and the “fear of the Lord” in a unified way

-Deuteronomy 6:2 with Deuteronomy 6:5

§ In Isaiah 29:13 Israel’s distorted “fear of me” is rejected precisely because it is made up only of rules taught by men.

§ According to Proverbs 2:1-5, “the fear of the Lord” is found through heartfelt prayer and diligent seeking for the sage’s words.

§ In Proverbs 15:33, “humility” and “fear of the Lord” are parallel terms, and in Proverbs 22:4 “humility” is defined as “the fear of the Lord sort.”


-What are the futile ways of inheritance?

§ Paul says the Gentiles walk in futility of mind and cautions the believers in Ephesus to live counter-culturally (Ephesians 4:17).

§ A life built on any less than the promised cornerstone, the solid rock of Jesus’ blood (atoning work) and righteousness (unbroken communion)

-Why did Jesus humble himself and come into human history?

§ For the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

-How have you been spared from eternal judgment?

§ By being ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

§ Penal Substitution: divine forgiveness must satisfy divine justice; if the death of Christ deals with sin and injustice, his resurrection is the renewal and restoration of righteousness.

-What was the cost of your salvation?

§ Death by crucifixion

§ Penal substitution

Application:

-What are the implications that we have been given more grace than the prophets?

§ We should be grateful and remind ourselves of this gift

§ We should diligently study all of the scriptures as they pertain to the gracious coming of Jesus to fully appreciate the wonder of God’s gift

§ Prophecies regarding Jesus should be used as a major tool for communicating God’s message of grace to the lost

§ Although our believe comes through faith, that faith has history on it’s side, adding to the uniqueness of the Biblical canon and its reliability as God’s inspired communication

§ Because we have God’s authoritative revelation we are not left to secular speculations

-What is the significance that angels long to look into the things announced to you?

§ Reminds us of Christ’s supremacy -only God knows the future, some things He keeps secret only unto Himself

§ The good news of the Messiah was cosmic in scale: the term ‘evangelion’ was reserved announcement that had far-ranging implications

-Describe a time when you have gone to Scripture for comfort in the middle of a trial and found peace in God?

§ Nehemiah: “You are doing a good work and cannot come down.” (MBMSI)

§ God is the only just judge and I have been forgiven much (Goodview)

-How is God’s character reflected in the gift of Scripture?

§ He communicates

§ He is relational

§ He is emotional

§ He is not distant, deistic

§ God wrote a book and Jesus is the hero

-Why does Peter balance the idea of “setting your mind for action” and being “sober minded”?

§ Our consciousness should be moved by the wonderful gift of God’s grace through Jesus

§ This compelling conviction should be executed in a strategic, realistic way

§ How is our work as teachers at PACA action oriented (has meaning for the kingdom) and sober minded (strategic)

-What are you setting your hope on that is not Jesus?

§ Having the physical and mental capacity to survive and secure a temporary future on this earth

-How does our sin reflect the true objects of our hope?

§ Sin is worshiping something other than god

§ Placing my hope on anything other than Jesus will surely disappoint

-How does your life reflect or not reflect a healthy fear of God?