“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear Θεός (Theos), 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 14:6, 7
I am scared to sin against Θεός (Theos) ("God") . I am scared to not seek Θεός (Theos) or seek to carry out His word with all my heart. Because that would make me like one of the five foolish virgins who failed to keep oil in their lamp, and I would be shut out of heaven. Matthew 25:1-13
I am scared to sin against Θεός (Theos). And I would be scared to die in a lukewarm state. Because then, similarly, as the scriptures regarding the ten virgins, I would be spit out of Θεός (Theos) 's body and be shut out of heaven. Revelation 3:16
I am scared to sin against Θεός (Theos). Because the pay in exchange (wages) for sin is death (Romans 6:23). I need the fear of Θεός (Theos) to keep me in line. I love the Lord for what He did for me and I'll get crushed in my spirit and reduced to tears from time to time when thinking about or sharing my testimony with someone because I feel when Θεός (Theos) saved me, I truly had no where or no one to turn to for help. So I believe Θεός (Theos) is great. That He is wonderful. That He is merciful and loving. But Θεός (Theos) is also to be feared.
I experienced Θεός (Theos)'s powerful love when I got saved. I experienced the mercy of Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) - Jesus Christ when I got saved. I received the spirit of adoption. I received salvation and it was powerful. But it's the fear of Θεός (Theos that pushes me to go forward. I will be hitting my 20 year mark in a few months (written 12/16) and I see clearly how weak I am and how that needs to change. I compare myself to Stephen. I compare myself to Paul and where does that leave me? In the proverbial gutter.. And that is a good place to be because Θεός (Theos)resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6b
And that is what everyone needs. To grow in grace... (1)
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18
And this fear of Θεός (Theos)isn't a bad thing. No matter who you are reading this. Because I fear Θεός (Theos) to do anyone wrong. Because that would be doing myself wrong. And that isn't loving my neighbor as myself. Loving Θεός (Theos) with all your heart is loving yourself. That is why Jesus forever connected these three commandments together. Matthew 22:40
The love of Θεός (Theos) can be the fear of Θεός (Theos) because it pushes you to good spiritual health. Abstaining from sin is good. So whatever gets you there is love. Even if it's a healthy fear of Θεός (Theos)
Love, the keeping of Θεός (Theos)'s commandments, is caused by fear. Because Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) - Jesus the Christ warns us to “abide in His love.” John 15:8
Jesus says, “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” John 15:9
And if you don't keep His commands (abide in His love), then we are in the worst danger anyone could ever face. And that is standing before Θεός (Theos) in judgment, being found guilty, and then suffering the eternal consequences.
A kind and loving Θεός (Theos) is warning us. He says He judges without partiality. So, take heed. Because you and I will not be excused on judgment day. We will all be held accountable for what we did or didn't do.
And yes, love Θεός (Theos) for His fear. Because otherwise you might sin against Him and wind up in hell. The truth is terrifying. Θεός (Theos)'s Word is terrifying. You who don't understand this, you don't know Θεός (Theos). Θεός (Theos)'s book is a book of warnings. Threats. From beginning to the very end. And these warnings apply to you and me. They applied to Jesus while He walked this earth. And Christ performing Θεός (Theos)'s Word perfectly His whole life, and then dying for us, sets us free from prior sins. And it washes us of present sin if it is a sin of ignorance only. Willful sin is not tolerated from Θεός (Theos). Θεός (Theos) is no respecter of persons. He gives all power to succeed. Here are two very clear examples in Scripture which show this.
1. "You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But Θεός (Theos) can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations." 1 Corinthians 10:13
2. "For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of Θεός (Theos); and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete." 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Read Ezekiel chapters 18 and 33. This applies to everyone. Anyone who says that isn't true is a liar:
"When I say to the righteous that they shall surely live; and if they trust in their own righteousness and commit sin, all their righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but they will only be remembered for the sin they have committed, and they shall die for it! Ezekiel 33
When the righteous turns away from their righteousness and commits sin and dies, for the sin that they have done shall they die (the 2nd death). Ezekiel 18
"Say unto them, 'As I live, says the Lord Θεός (Theos), I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but I take pleasure if the wicked turn from their wicked ways and live: turn you!, turn from your evil ways! for why will you die, O house of Israel?'"
Turn, Repent, Love Θεός (Theos) with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. For why will you die?
Θεός (Theos) expects works from us. He said if we don't bear fruit we will be cut down and cast into fire... "there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth ... "
How do we do this? Love Θεός (Theos) with all your heart. In other words, give Him and His Word all your attention and focus. Keep your mind stayed on His Word (Him, Jesus)
Don't reply to me saying, "Thou shalt NOT surely die" (Genesis 3:4), because you will be shut down. My position is non-negotiable.. because it is Θεός (Theos)'s position..
"13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Θεός (Theos), and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For Θεός (Theos) shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12
"Study to show yourself approved to Θεός (Theos),
a workman that needs not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
"And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Ezekiel 36:27, 28
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord Θεός (Theos) (through Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) - Jesus the Christ). Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord Θεός (Theos): wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. Ezekiel 18
"Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Ezekiel 33:9
See my other messages in the top right hand column for more understanding regarding Θεός (Theos)'s power toward us and the different kinds of sin (sins unto death/sins not unto death = wilful sins vs sins of ignorance and going astray 1 John 5).
Θεός (Theos) loves the people in the world so much that He came down to die for us. If Θεός (Theos) is opening your heart through Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) - Jesus the Christ to His message and you feel convicted for your sins which have separated you from a holy Θεός (Theos) and you feel the need to be forgiven, then say this prayer. This is how I was powerfully converted to the Christ in 1997!
Say, "My Lord and my Θεός (Theos), have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe Jesus the Christ died on the cross and shed His precious blood for the forgiveness of all my sins. I believe Jesus raised from the dead and ascended into heaven and is now on the right-hand side of Θεός (Theos) listening to this prayer. I open up the door of my heart and I invite You in, Lord Jesus. Thank you, Θεός (Theos) , for saving my soul through Ἰησοῦς Χριστός (Iēsous Christos) - Jesus the Christ and I vow to serve you with all my heart which is the first and greatest commandment. Amen."