Ps 36:1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there isn't any fear of God before his eyes.
Rom 3:
(We know they do these things simply because there isn't any fear of God in them.
If there were they wouldn't do them.)
and the Scriptures also says why it's important to have this "healthy fear" of
God...
Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.
2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
of God.
(We know too that those who are cleansing themselves this way do so because
(when they first came to Jesus) they had a healthy fear and still maintain a
healthy fear of God. They're smart!)
I was trying to make my point with some of you before on why experiencing the
Love of God is so important and I tried in several ways to explain it.
Below is the full explanation...
2 Cor 7:15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst
he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye
received him.
The greater one understands and obeys Him and comes to Him naked (just as
they are) with no holds barred and nothing to make a peace offering with except
our sins as scarlet), then the GREATER His Love will be!
Those who obey and come before Him for Salvation; Him who is in the Light, and
thus tremble like a leaf in the fear of God, the GREATER His love towards them
will be!
Those who are brought to the end of themselves by God (in their being prepared
in advance by Him like the good ground was made ready to receive Him) to know
how absolutely serious He is in His giving us His Son, know full well that He does
not take this "Sin Offering" of His only begotten Son lightly (to say the least)!
Thus the GREATER His Love will be!
The amount of Love we originally received from Him (when we first heard,
believed, came and received) goes according to how seriously we take Him at
His word.
The greater one Loves Him the greater our obedience to Him will be, which leads
to a greater/deeper knowledge of Him THROUGH HIS LOVE.
This is all "Reciprocal".
--*his inward affection is more abundant toward you*--
So, those who receive Jesus in this way...
The Greater the Love the Greater the committment!
"HOW" we came to Him will determine whether or not we'll "Remain" in Him.
If we have Much Fear of Him (which means that we intend to obey Him fully with
all our heart), then we are given "Much Love from Him", for being so wise!
If we have little fear of Him (as do many of those who preach "cheap grace")
then we are given little love in the knowledge of Him -
so little in fact that our reception of Him is "shallow". And that is precisely why
so many fail to continue in His words (i.e. in His Love) and end up shortly losing
it all and fall away, all the while maintaining to the world a "religious" outward
facade.
So, the deeper our appreciation of His precious sacrifice is - the greater our fear
of God in knowing He means business is - the purer our committment to sell all,
obey and follow Him to the death is - (ALL seen in the Love He first Loved us
with that brought us to Him in the first place) - Then the greater will be His love
for us in return (i.e. NOW, IN THE PRESENT!).
Biff
Did you ever notice that the Scriptures comment on those who have NOT the
fear of God in them...
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit;
the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There isn't any fear of God before their eyes.
Receive MUCH GREATER (Deeper - Higher - Wider - Hotter) LOVE IN THE
KNOWLEDGE OF HIM (Eph.3:17-19).
The Greater the Love the Deeper the walk!
The Greater the Love the More Intense the knowledge of Him!
The Greater the Love the less likely one is to ever fall away! God forbid!!!
