Fear of God: The Beginning of Wisdom

Does it seem like not many people have the “fear of God” in our world to you? People are living with the belief of “my truth” – which is a deception, a lie. “Truth” is being distorted like never before, in the past, we referred to this as “delusional or insane.” People need help and Truth. But what is Truth? Truth is the Word of God. What is the Word of God? (Read these passages to comprehend what the Bible states). The Word of God is Jesus. (John 1:1) The Word of God is found in scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16) If you seek Him, you will find Him. (Deuteronomy 4:29) Jesus is “the Truth.” (John 14:6)

WHY SHOULD I TRUST THE BIBLE?

It contains documented historical accounts from multiple eye witnesses (40 authors) over a significant span of time, all with a consistent story and message. It contains prophecies told by 17 different prophets, which came true later in history, yet some remain to be fulfilled to this day! (Read it and you will discover this for yourself!) The oldest book, Job, reflects the cultural and historical settings found in Genesis Chapters 12-50 (written ~1446 – 1406 BC); therefore it is believed to have been written in the second millenium BC (~2000 BC) around the time of Abraham (~2166 – 1991 BC). The last book of the Bible (Revelation) was written by the apostle/disciple, John (~90-96 AD). So in total, the scripture spans approximately 2,100 years with virtually no change as proven when the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient manuscripts that were discovered between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves near Khirbet Qumran, on the northwestern shores of the Dead Sea. They are approximately two thousand years old, dating from the third century BCE to the first century CE.

The Israel Museum

Lack of the “fear of God” isn’t something new though, it has been present throughout the history of the Bible. However, the lack of “fear of God” had deadly consequences as given by example from the authors of the books of the Bible. We can learn from other’s experiences and if we take action, we won’t suffer the same consequences they did. This is how Paul described people who don’t fear God (Romans 3:11-18):

  • As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;
  • there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
  • All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
  • “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
  • “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
  • “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
  • ruin and misery mark their ways,
  • and the way of peace they do not know.”
  • “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

When I first read the Bible in 2019, there were verses that put the “Fear of God” in me. I believed, after reading the Bible, and knew I needed to change my way of living life because of the future consequences that would affect me, if I did not change. These are the verses that still come to mind, when I think of “Why fear God?” four years later:

WHY FEAR GOD?

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:23

Some people make up their own version of God and lie to themselves claiming they are good, but Jesus said (and this is affirmed by other authors throughout scripture):

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Mark 10:18

WHO WILL NOT BE IN GOD’S KINGDOM?

There are repetitive verses describing those who WILL NOT be in the kingdom of God, as follows:

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (Paul)

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

Ephesians 5: 5-7 (Paul)

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 (Paul)

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8 (Jesus)

Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Revelation 22:5 (Jesus)

SOME WHO CALL THEMSELVES “CHRISTIANS” WILL BE SUPRISED:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 7:21-23 (Jesus)

IT’S IMPORTANT TO COMPREHEND WHAT “BELIEVE” MEANS (We know demons will not be in God’s kingdom yet they “believe”):

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

James 2:18-20

AT A CERTAIN POINT OF CONTINUAL REJECTION, GOD ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR WAY:

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

Romans 1:28 (Paul)

DOES GOD BLOT OUT NAMES FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE?

It appears so, check out this link, searching “blot” in scripture: (Blot)

The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

Revelation 3:5 (Jesus)

So who is the “victorius”? From that chapter, it appears to be “Christians” who have NOT “backslid,” “transgressed” or gone back into a sinful lifestyle. When a white robe is given, symbolically this is the covering of Jesus, but if a person “soils” their white robe, they are NOT part of the “victorious.” Jesus says: “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” he says: “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” and he also says: “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.” He gives a warning if they don’t repent, they are about to die! This scripture is why I personally don’t believe the doctrine of “once saved, always saved”- we need to remain “in Christ”- Jesus warns so many times about “falling asleep,” being “unprepared.” “What you have received” seems to reference “the Holy Spirit” and “heard” seems to reference the gospel message. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins Jesus emphasizes “being prepared”, oil is symbolic of annointing, of having the Holy Spirit. Remember that Jesus said unless we are “born again” (a new creation, born of the Spirit) we will not see God’s kingdom. This is important to know for those who claim to be “Christians,” but truly aren’t- there’s curently time to “wake up” and get right with God.

THE RETURN OF JESUS

The return of Jesus is referred to as “the day of the Lord”; there are many references to it throughout muliple authors of the Bible, click here to read the verses/references. It will be filled with God’s just wrath against all who choose evil and have rejected God.

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION ?

Repent (Reject Sin/Ask for forgiveness), show your Belief by your actions/how you live, receive the Holy Spirit from God through Jesus (the Holy Spirit transforms/changes us to become obedient to God). Repentance is required for the forgiveness of sins, Jesus did the rest. Repentance is what we do to prepare, and Jesus will give us the Holy Spirit when we are sincere, because we need to be “born of the spirit” to enter the kingdom of God. (John 3)

and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Luke 24:47 (Jesus)

EVIDENCE OF BEING SAVED- “A NEW CREATION”

Many people “identify as Christians” but may not be saved, or true Christians. Unfortunately these people turn others away from Christianity by how they live, because they are not a living example, their life has not changed and they may not understand what it truly means to be a Christian. If a person is truly saved/in Christ, these are characteristics that others will see:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5: 22-24 (Paul)

If a person is NOT SAVED, these are characteristics that others will see:

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 (Paul)

THE BENEFITS OF REPENTANCE/RECONCILIATION WITH GOD:

WE HAVE GOD’S PROTECTION:

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.

1 John 5:18 (John)

WE (WHO ARE NOT JEWISH) WILL HAVE A SHARED INHERITANCE WITH THE REMNANT OF THE JEWS

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (Paul)

and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:12 (Paul)

since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:24 (Paul)

Next you might ask “as a reward for what?” the answer is in the verses prior to this quote: living in a Christian household (wives, husbands, children)

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:15

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5

WE BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

John 1:12

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Romans 8:14 (Paul)

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Romans 8:19 (Paul)

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,

Galatians 3:26 (Paul)

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

Phillippians 2: 12-16

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[fn] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

1 John 3:1-10

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:1-5

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

1 John 5:18-19

GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS AND ANSWERS THEM IF THEY ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS WILL

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

Daniel 10:12

So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

Genesis 19:29

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

1 John 5:14

WE WILL RECEIVE BLESSINGS : ( CLICK HERE: BLESSED IS) and (CLICK HERE: BLESSED ARE)

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

Revelation 22:7 (Jesus)

If you find this helpful, please share this with someone else. I know these verses are hard to handle, but they are truth so if someone is not right with God or prepared but decides to change that, that’s one more person living in God’s kingdom, one more eternal friend or brother/sister. It’s not too late if someone is reading or hearing this today; do it today- don’t delay. This is meant to be received in love, for the good of those who read this and take action.