THE WAY GOD’S CHILDREN BEHAVE

Studies in 1 Peter

God’s children respect their heavenly Father!

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;

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21)

What does it mean to fear God?

Fear of God is first of all terror at the prospect of punishment.

• It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)

• “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! (Luke 12:4-5)

This terror of punishment for the believer has been ameliorated by the grace and mercy of God in the gospel.• There is therefore now no condemnation for

those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

• For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15)

• 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. (1 John 4:18)

Fear of God is transformed into a feeling of reverence or awe because of the character, position, and power of God.

• Vine defines this fear of God as “reverential and moral, a controlling motive of the life, in matters spiritual and moral, not a mere fear of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him, a fear which banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence and which influence the disposition and attitude of one whose circumstances are guided by trust in God through the indwelling Spirit of God”.

Why we should fear God?

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;

Because we address Him or call upon Him as Father!

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;

Because life on earth is only temporary!

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;

Because God will impartially judge us according to our deeds!

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Because God has redeemedus at great cost!

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Because God’s plan has existed from the beginning!

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Because God has given us a reason to believe and hope!

There’s not much worse than a disrespectful and rebellious child, unless it is a disrespectful and rebellious child of God! God has given us every reason to fear Him! Let’s fear Him!