Thursday, March 19, 2009

Keeping His Commandments

Ec 12:13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The only true way to keep God's commandments is to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour. When you do this, Jesus gives you His Own righteousness. However, the context indicates that Solomon means that we are to live lives of continual obedience to God.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

One of the great blessings of obedience is that Jesus manifests Himself to Christians who obey Him. Christians who feel that they need to lie and scheme in order to advance in church authority sometimes find themselves serving in the flesh, because God will have nothing to do with their service. Christians who leave their religion behind them when they leave their homes often find themselves living powerless lives, because God does not want people to associate them with Him.

Do you want to be used by God? Then do it His way, not your way. Obey Him, and then trust Him to show you where to serve.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Fear of the Lord

Ec 12:13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Man's entire duty to God is to fear Him and keep His commandments. And one of the most widespread errors in Christianity is the belief that the "Fear of the Lord" refers to "reverential awe." A study of the Hebrew and Greek words translated "fear" show that they mean "fear." And  over the decades, I have been amazed at the number of  people who hold positions of Christian leadership, yet do not fear the Lord.

First, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge Proverbs 1:7 and of wisdom Psalm 111:10. A person who does not fear the Lord does not even have the beginning of knowledge or wisdom.

Second, you should be friends with people who fear the Lord Ps. 119:63  ¶ I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. Notice that obedience, the second part of the duty of man, is connected with the fear of the Lord.

Third, remember that people who don't like other Christians don't fear the Lord Ps 119:74 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word. People who go around criticizing Christians and demanding that you have nothing to do with them might be saved, but they do not fear the Lord.

Fourth, the fear of the Lord is to hate evil Proverbs 8:13 The verse goes on to explain that pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth are things that a person who fears the Lord hates.

Fifth, And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. Proverbs 16:6 A Christian who fears the Lord doesn't need a bunch of man-made rules; he'll depart from evil on his own.