Tag Archives: fear

What do fear, flesh, and works have to do with salvation?

Grace and Judgment Posted on by

Someone left an interesting comment on an earlier post:

If we cannot lose our salvation why then did Paul say Walk out your salvation with fear and trembling.

And why did he say I pummel my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others I myself will not be cast away

It’s in reply to an earlier comment that claims it’s impossible to lose salvation once saved. Numerous Bible verses seem to point in that direction. Numerous other Bible verses seem to say that it’s possible, once saved, to lose salvation. Theologians have been arguing about it for centuries.… Read the rest

Amaziah, the drama of a half-hearted king

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The Bible makes many promises to anyone who trusts, serves, and loves God with a whole heart. None of these promises apply to anyone who trusts with only half a heart. Let’s consider the case of King Amaziah.

It’s too bad today’s Christians know so little of Old Testament history, because the stories there have as  much drama as anything on TV or in the movies. Plus, they illustrate basic spiritual principles. We know quite a bit about David, whom the Bible calls “a man after God’s own heart.”

In contrast, 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25 tell how Amaziah “did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly” (2 Chronicles 25:2).… Read the rest

Lessons in faith: Jairus and a sick woman

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Faith can move a mountain. Scripture might not record any instances of moving a literal, geographic mountain, but it certainly shows astounding results of faith in action. Mountain-moving faith has four imperatives: believe, speak, act, and stand. The hardest part is the last part, to stand.

Consider Jairus, a synagogue official whose daughter was dying. Jesus healed her, but only after an awkward interruption. Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56 tell the story.

Synagogue officials, by definition Pharisees, often disapproved of Jesus. But not all of them. Jairus obviously believed Jesus would heal his daughter. What’s more, he must have believed that Jesus would agree to do so if asked.… Read the rest

Why live in the fear of God?

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owl on book with Proverbs 1:7. Live in the fear of GodWhen we hear the phrase “put the fear of God into someone,” we know “someone” is, or will be very frightened. Does God want his people to be very frightened?

Of course not.

Jesus identified the most important commandment as “love your God.” How can we love what frightens us?

And yet the Bible commands the fear of God in many places and many ways. Why should we live in the fear of God?

… Read the rest

Education, God, and fools

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A university professor recently wrote to the editor of my local newspaper to denounce the state legislature’s failure to fund state universities adequately.

It’s a Republican legislature, and in the professor’s eyes they’re afraid of education, and especially that getting an education will expose students to ideas that would make them question religion.

Society, religious or otherwise, would do well to be afraid of that sentiment. It’s quite a leap from naming a political party to the assumption of its religious motivation and a bigger leap from ideas that question religion to the implication that they will disprove religion and convert all the students to good Democrats.… Read the rest

Trusting the God of ordinary things

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Trust in the Lord“Trust and obey,” says the hymn, “for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.”

That’s easy, even fun to sing in church on Sunday or perhaps at home during personal devotions. It’s nothing but church talk if we don’t put legs on it, set our hands to work on it, and let it control our mouths and, yes, our thoughts once we close the hymnal.

Weekday faith, in other words, keeps working somehow even when life’s choices do not appear in strictly and obviously moral terms. It works to keep us trusting and obeying in the midst of ordinary, every day temptations.… Read the rest

How Gideon failed at success

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Everyone wants to succeed at what they try. The alternative is failure.

Successful people know failure. They have learned from it, worked out problems, and tried again until they succeed. That’s the way the world works.

Unfortunately, the world also has pitfalls that can ultimately destroy the successful if they’re not vigilant. The Bible has many examples. Let’s look at Gideon.

… Read the rest

Overcoming fear with peace

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Fear is one of Satan’s weapons to keep Christians from living in the freedom that Christ purchased for us. Fear keeps the lonely from reaching out to other people. Fear keeps us all from leaving our comfort zones to reach out for any goals at all.

We naturally experience fear when we experience adversity, obstacles, or failure. We shouldn’t give into it just because it’s natural. We have supernatural advantages, just as Jesus did in the Garden.

… Read the rest

The lie depression tells

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Depression is an unpleasant condition at best. At worst it’s debilitating. And yet it’s basically a lie. In part, of course, it’s a chemical imbalance in the brain, but no drugs can cure it unless somehow its victim can look past the lie to find the truth.

Like all lies of the devil, it works by blinding people to their true situation. Anyone who hasn’t bought into depression’s lie has bought into something else. Although David might be the last biblical character we’d think of as someone suffering from depression, Psalm 13 clearly illustrates both the problem and the solution.

… Read the rest

Joshua’s courage–and fear

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“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”–Joshua 1:9, NRSV

Moses was dead. Joshua was scared. How do I know that? Because the Book of Joshua begins with God giving him a pep talk. Three times during that pep talk, God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. When he got up from there and went out among the people, they told him to be strong and courageous.

So, was it wrong for Joshua to be scared? No. It means God had him right where he wanted him.… Read the rest