E quipping God s people for ministry in the church and mission to the world. SATURDAYS, 8:30-10:00 AM Grace Bible College 2016 Winter / Spring Semester Reformed Living 12 Lessons on Reformed Theology & Christian Practice DATE TOPIC ROOM JAN 30 1 The Biblical View of Forgiveness Fellowship Hall FEB MAY APR MAR 6 No Bible College - Prayer Breakfast 13 2 The Biblical View of Free Will Fellowship Hall 20 3 Knowing & Doing God s Will Sanctuary 27 4 Christian Apologetics & Evangelism Fellowship Hall 5 5 Good Citizenship Under Bad Government Fellowship Hall 12 No Bible College - Session Meeting 19 6 Christian Response to Moral / Social Issues Sanctuary 26 7 The Biblical View of the Family Fellowship Hall 2 8 Living Coram Deo: Before the Face of God Fellowship Hall 9 9 The Fear of the Lord & Christian Practice Fellowship Hall 16 10 The Regulative Principle of Worship Sanctuary 23 No Bible College - Ladies Retreat 30 No Bible College - Walk For Life @ The Zoo 7 No Bible College - Prayer Breakfast 14 No Bible College - Sessions Meeting 21 11 The Reformed View of Suffering & Trials Sanctuary 28 12 Prayer & the Sovereignty of God Fellowship Hall
Lesson 9 The Fear of the Lord & Christian Practice GRACE BIBLE COLLEGE A Ministry of Grace Community Church 872 Clearfield Ave, Chesapeake VA 23320 grace@gc-church.com, (757) 549-2228
Old Testament Scriptures Deuteronomy 10:12 - what does the Lord your God require from you, but to FEAR the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul 1 Samuel 12:24 - Only FEAR the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 2 Chronicles 19:7 - Now then let the FEAR of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness Psalm 103:11 - For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who FEAR Him. Psalm 103:17 - But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who FEAR Him, And His righteousness to children s children Ecclesiastes 8:12 - I know that it will be well for those who FEAR God, who FEAR Him openly. Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Isaiah 8:13 - It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your FEAR, and He shall be your DREAD. Isaiah 66:2 - But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who TREMBLES at My word. Jerermiah 32:40 - And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the FEAR of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. 1
Old Covenant: Closer to God = Greater 1. AT MOUNT SINAI. Exodus 19:16-20 - So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were THUNDER and LIGHTNING flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very LOUD TRUMPET sound, so that all the people who were in the camp TREMBLED. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was all in SMOKE because the Lord descended upon it in FIRE; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a FURNACE, and the whole mountain QUAKED VIOLENTLY. When the sound of the TRUMPET GREW LOUDER AND LOUDER, Moses spoke and God answered him with THUNDER. The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. Exodus 20:18-20 - All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they TREMBLED and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die. Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the FEAR of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin. 2. IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES. Leviticus 16:2 - The Lord said to Moses: Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will DIE; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. 2
New Testament Scriptures Acts 9:31 - So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and, going on in the FEAR of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ... Therefore knowing the FEAR of the Lord, we persuade men 2 Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the FEAR of God. Ephesians 5:21 - be subject to one another in the FEAR of Christ. Philippians 2:12 - So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with FEAR and trembling 1 Peter 1:17 - And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man s work, conduct yourselves in FEAR during the time of your stay upon earth 1 Peter 2:17 - Honor all men; love the brotherhood, FEAR God, honor the king. Revelation 14:7 - FEAR God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters. New Covenant: Closer to God = Greater Hebrews 10:19-20 - Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh (cf. Matthew 27:50-51) Hebrews 4:16 - Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Contrast between Old & New Covenants - Hebrews 12:18-24. 3
Sinners in the Hands Of An Angry God 1. WRATH OF GOD. God s righteous indignation. God s righteous indignation toward sin is described as burning anger (14x), fury (17x), and wrath (OT-138x, NT-34x), Gk. thumos, boiling rage. Psalm 7:11 - God is angry with the wicked every day (KJV) 2. PROPITIATION. Satisfaction of God s wrath. Isaiah 53:10-11 - But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief... As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied Hebrews 2:17 - Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 1 John 4:10 - In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (cf. Rom. 3:24-25; 1 John 2:2) 3. PEACE WITH GOD. The Christian need never again fear God s wrath. 1 John 4:17 18 - By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. Romans 5:9 - Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 - For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 4
4. STORING UP WRATH. God s wrath looms over the unbeliever, because he has rejected Jesus Christ as the substitutionary atonement for his sins. Romans 2:5 - But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up WRATH for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God Romans 1:18-20 - For the WRATH of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Ephesians 2:1-3 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of WRATH, even as the rest. Revelation 14:9 11 - If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the WRATH of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night 5
Fear of the Lord in Practice F FILIAL DREAD OF DISPLEASING OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. E filial: of or due from a son or daughter. Malachi 1:6 - A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My FEAR? says the Lord of hosts to you. 1 Peter 1:17 - If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one s work, conduct yourselves in FEAR during the time of your stay on earth. ECLIPSING FEAR OF ANYTHING ELSE. Isaiah 8:12-13 - And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your FEAR, and He shall be your DREAD. Psalm 27:1-3 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I FEAR? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. Matthew 10:28 - Do not FEAR those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather FEAR Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 6
A AWARENESS OF: (1) Our Accountability to God. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the FEAR of the Lord, we persuade men (2) God s Discipline Which Can be Sorrowful. Hebrews 12:5 11 - My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He SCOURGES every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but SORROWFUL; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. R REVERENCE AND AWE. Psalm 2:11 - Worship the Lord with REVERENCE and rejoice with TREMBLING. Isaiah 66:2 - But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who TREMBLES at My word. Hebrews 12:28-29 - Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with REVERENCE and AWE; for our God is a consuming fire. 7 Our Accountability to God 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.