The Fear of the Lord

Psalms 103:17-18 ESV

“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

    and his righteousness to children's children,

to those who keep his covenant

    and remember to do his commandments.”

Psalms 103:17-18 NLT

“But the love of the Lord remains forever

    with those who fear him.

His salvation extends to the children’s children

    of those who are faithful to his covenant,

    of those who obey his commandments!”

A lot of people might consider this Old Testament or Old Covenant, and they may feel as though this does not apply to Christians today. But the New Testament teaches the same thing. We are instructed to fear God, to reverence him, and to not be those who have no fear of God before their eyes. For we are to walk in the fear of the Lord. And his mercy is for those who fear him. 

And anyone who fears the Lord and does what is right is acceptable to him. And we should be those who know what it is to fear the Lord. And we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in us, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. And a time is coming when God will reward his servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear his name. 

[Matt 10:28; Luke 1:50; Acts 9:31; Acts 10:34-35; Rom 3:10-18; Rom 12:1-2; 2 Co 5:6-11; 2 Co 7:1; Php 2:12-13; Heb 5:7; Heb 12:28-29; Rev 11:18; Rev 14:7; Rev 15:4] 

So, you can see that this is not just Old Testament teaching, but it is New Testament teaching, too. And to fear God is to believe him and to believe his word, and then it is to do what he says to do, to act upon what we say we believe, and not to just mouth empty words of faith in him which are not followed up with walks of obedience, living holy lives pleasing to God. For we are to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1).

And the New Testament also teaches the importance of love for God and for obedience to his commands. For Jesus said that if want to come after him that we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. And Jesus said that if anyone keeps (obeys) his word, he will never see death. And he said that if we love him that we will keep (obey) his commandments (New Covenant). And he said that his sheep hear (or listen) to his voice, he knows them, and they follow (obey) him.

And then the apostles taught that God/Jesus is going to render to each one according to his works, and for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. And we know that we have come to know Christ if we keep (obey) his commandments. For whoever says that he knows him but does not keep (obey) his commandments is a liar. But whoever keeps God’s word, in him truly the love of God is perfected, etc.

[Luke 9:23-26; John 8:51; John 14:15-24; John 15:10; John 10:27-30; Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 2:6-8; 1 John 2:3-6,15-17; 1 John 3:4-10,24; 1 John 5:2-3; 2 John 1:6; Romans 6:16; Hebrews 5:9; 1 Peter 1:1-2; James 1:21-25; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13]

So, we must understand here that the fear of the Lord and the necessity of obedience to our Lord are still taught to us in the New Testament. And God’s unfailing love is toward those who fear him, who walk in the fear of the Lord, and who honor, respect, and submit to him and to his will for our lives. He forgives the sins of those who fear him, who obey him, and who do what he says, and who do not ignore nor spurn his commands. But if we walk in sin, and not in obedience to him, we don’t have eternal life in him.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10; 2 Co 5:10; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; 1 Pet 1:17-21; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyX4HGCf79Q

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I Pray for Them 

 

An Original Work / June 4, 2013

Based off John 17

“Glorify Your Son, that Your Son

May glorify our God in heav’n. 

Father, You granted Him all power

And all authority over men,

That He might give eternal life

To all those whom now

You have given Him.”

“This now then is eternal life:

That they may know You, 

Father, and Your Son;

That they may know the only true God,

And Jesus Christ whom the Father sent.

I have brought You the glory by

Finishing the work that You’ve given Me.”

“I have shown You to those whom

You gave to Me out of the world; 

They were Yours. You gave them to Me 

And they have obeyed Your words

And they accepted them. They knew

That I came from You, and they believed 

With certainty, I was sent.”

“Holy Father, I pray for them by the

Power of Your name: Protect them,

So that they may be one as we are,

For they are still living in this world.

I have given them Your word;

Because of Your word, the world

Has hated them.”

“I pray they may have the full measure of

My joy now living within them.

Father, I pray You sanctify them

By Your word; truly Your word is truth.

As You sent Me into the world, 

I send them to tell the world to repent.”

https://vimeo.com/116141024