Text: "There is No Fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:18)
Here is the Cause of every Sin. Men steal, lie, covet, etc. because they neither Fear God nor Regard Man.
The Fear of God cannot be separated from the Knowledge of God. To Know God is to Fear Him; and they who Know Him Best, Fear Him most. It is characteristic of the Unregenerate that "there is no Fear of God before their eyes."
John, the disciple beloved of the Lord, and who leaned upon His breast, when he saw Him in a vision, "fell at His feet as dead". (Revelation 1:17) And, Peter knew The Lord, yet when revealed Himself to him, Peter "fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ’Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord.’" (Luke 5:8) So it was when Isaiah saw the Lord, "high and lifted up" cried, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips." (Isaiah 6:5) And, so it is with all who Know God; and he who does not Fear God does not Know God."
God is to be Feared. "He is to be Feared above all gods." "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints." And men are exhorted, "Be in the Fear of the Lord all the day long." (Psalm 76:7; 96:4; 89:7; Proverbs 23:17)
WHY GOD IS TO BE FEARED: He is to be Feared, because "the Lord Reigneth:" therefore, "let the people tremble."(Psalm 99:1) Secondly, He is to be Feared on account of His Providence, for as Solomon declares, "I know whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: thing taken from it: and God doeth it that men should Fear before Him. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)
Thirdly, God is to be Feared because men are commanded to Fear Him. "Fear God and the king." "Fear before Him all the earth." And again, "He sitteth between the Cherubims, let the Earth be moved." (Proverbs 24:21; Psalm 96:9; 99:1)
God is to be Feared because "He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in Righteousness by THAT MAN Whom He hath ordained, whereof He hath given assurance unto all men in that He hath raised Him from the dead." (Acts 17:31; See: Isaiah 2:10, 19-22)
Fifthly, men are to Fear God because to "Fear God and Keep His Commandments" is the "whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13) For this man was created; and to fail here is to render his life but so much rubbish or dung. "Why cumbereth (he) the ground?" But "Come, ye children," the Lord invites, "hearken unto Me: I will teach you the Fear of the Lord." (Psalm 39:11)
THE FEAR OF THE LORD--WHAT IT IS: There is a Natural Fear of God that unregenerate men possess, and there is what is called "Evangelical Fear." The Egyptians in the midst of the Red Sea recognized the God of Israel was against them. But instead of prostrating themselves before Him, they turned to flee. So are all they who desire to keep God at arm’s distance and who do not want to become involved with Him. Evangelical Fear, however, causes Godly men like Peter and John to fall before Him in Reverential Fear. It causes such men to acknowledge their unworthiness and to worship Him in thankful wonderment.
Broadly speaking, "the Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge." (Proverbs 1:7) Knowledge begins when we learn to Fear God. All Knowledge properly understood teaches the Fear of God, and they who have not learned this, although they have several earned degrees from their "formal education," nevertheless have not acquired the basic rudiments of Knowledge. As true Knowledge originates with God, it therefore teaches about Him and instills Reverence for Him. "But Fools despise Wisdom and Instruction." What a colossal catastrophe to be just such a Fool!
Again, "The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom, and the Knowledge of the Holy is Understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) Knowledge is the proper acquisition of Truth. Wisdom is the ability to properly use Truth. Understanding is the ability to properly answer why Truth is Truth. For this Reason the young man spoken of in Proverbs chapter Seven who passes near the harlot’s corner is described as a "simple" man. Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding are all gifts of God, and He deals with men "severally, as He will." To some He gives more Wisdom; to others more Knowledge; and to others more Understanding.
Specifically, "The Fear of the Lord is to Hate Evil." (Proverbs 8:13) By the very act Atonement, God shows His abhorrence of Sin. Therefore, the Fear of the Lord is a bridle to Sin and a goad to Godliness. "By the Fear of the Lord men depart from Evil" (Proverbs 16:6) Our Iniquity is not purged that we may continue to wallow in Sin. Even the touch of Sin becomes loathsome to the man who fears God.
To Know God is to Fear Him; and they who know Him Best, Fear Him Most. And, He who does not Fear God, does not Know God.
The Bon Air Residential Hotel has graciously allowed the Pilgrim’s Bible Church to conduct Rent-free three services each week for the past five years. The church has not so much as received a bill for utilities. However, the Hotel closed the first of August for renovations. This means alternate facilities must be found for the Pilgrim’s Bible Church.
A Church located near the Bon Air in the heart of Augusta is vacant. It has seven classrooms, a large fellowship hall and auditorium with 20 solid oak pews.
Advent Christian Church that owns it will finance it--$40,000 at 10% for ten years. But as the Pilgrim’s Bible Church--with its $150 average monthly offering, is unable to carry this burden, it will necessitate Our family moving into the back section of the church.
However, the present owners will let us have these facilities for $30,000 if we can come up with the money.
$27.27 from each reader of the Angelus would make this a reality.
We are calling on all who love us to pray that the Lord will move among His people to help us.
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I thought you would be interested in knowing that my stepfather is named "Thomas." He is a direct descendant of the Seth Thomas clocks family. One of the early settlers in New Hampshire was a family named "Thomas." There were five sons in this family, and the father wanted to name them Bible names --which he did. All began with the letter "Z".
Their names: "Zaira, Zira, Zina, Zuble, and Zeckle."