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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Mar 21, 2006 8:12:56 GMT -5
The Fear of Hell or the Glory of God: Motives for Coming to Christ.
Just a brief opinion/question to consider: While the Bible does say "...some save with fear..." and that the fear of judgment and the hot displeasure of the Lord, His wrath, can certainly cause one to realize their need for the Saviour Jesus Christ...Could we sometimes put too much of an emphasis on that solely?
Don't get me wrong, I believe whole heartedly that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," but I tend to agree with Paris Reidhead that the chief end of man is the Glory of God. I think that giving God glory should be expounded upon as well when it comes to preaching salvation.
God gets the glory anyway. In His true and divine justice of sentencing those caught dead in the tresspasses to Hell and in His true and divine mercy towards those who are under the blood of His Son.
But do we leave the job somewhat undone when we preach about the fear of the Lord, and neglect the supremacy He is to take in life? That it is not that "good men deserve the anger and wrath of a bad God, but bad men deserve the wrath of a good God."
Just something to consider. Thanks.
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Post by Jules on Mar 22, 2006 23:16:35 GMT -5
I totally agree - if we simply preach a message of "flee from the wrath to come" and don't speak to issues that will bring glory to God over and over as they live out their faith in their actions, we've not done all we could have.
Nobody really wants to go to hell, at least not those who actually believe in a literal hell. But who wouldn't take the "get out of hell free card" if given the chance?
Our lives are to be more than just worms who escaped the flames of hell by a merciful God. That is just the beginning. The greatest glory I think comes when that worm turns into a new life (a butterfly maybe?) resurrected from their death in sin and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Renewed, changed, all of it. We should be preaching those things as well.
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