Fear of Hell and Faith

[IAMANOBODY2015]

Well, I may not be chosen then. That sucks

But I will seek his mercy and forgiveness anyways.

 

[Thir7ySev3n]

Does anyone else have their faith in God based highly off of fear of Hell?

I have love of Jesus for dying for me and creating me. And was first drawn to the gospel by something else than fear of Hell. It was hope he'd remove a demon from me and something else long and complicated.

But fear of Hell has kept me from sinning and straying from the faith more than all else. I dislike some doctrines in the Bible, but I obey to submit to God just because he's God and out of fear of Hell. Not out of love. Things such as serving others and serving God by helping others has grown on me and I now do out of love for others and Him. He caused a change of heart in me. I am all for loving everyone too even our enemies. I agree with most of the New Testament. But I don't agree with some things in the Bible and the main reason I obey or don't support others doing them is fear of Hell. Makes me wonder how much I love God since some things in the Bible seem unfair to me.

I feel I need to change. I want a love of God to permeate my actions. Has anyone else went through this? What did you do to change?

I was one of those Christians ten years ago (when I first put my faith in Christ) who was motivated largely by guilt and fear for the first four years of my Christian walk. I couldn't do anything, even things I knew were good, without suspecting something was wrong specifically with my participation in the activity. Pleasure itself became pain to me, as it always translated to guilt.

I must say in retrospect, however, that I understand now why God allowed me to suffer this. You must understand that God alone knows your heart, far more than even you know your own (Jeremiah 17:9, Ezekiel 11:19), and His wisdom in dealing with you in what He causes or allows is perfect. For myself, I understand that in my early Christian walk I would never have traveled so far across the desert if not for God's provision of consistent discomfort in my present circumstances. Just as the pain of a broken tooth drives you more to rectify the issue than an uncomfortable seat rouses you to move, so guilt and fear can propel you much farther than the feeling of admonishment at the end of the soft hand of grace and patience.

We like to try to convince God that we work better with comfort and ease, but really we often are simply deceiving ourselves into conflating feeling better with doing better. You must remember the admonishment of Paul:

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Never underestimate the power of fear to develop sincere character. Just as fear of discipline in youth rouses respect for the cause of the discipline, so fear of God's righteous discipline against our sin can rouse love for His commands. If you are a son of God, you will know discipline: "And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." (Hebrews 12:5-6)

He continues, "If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all." (Hebrews 12:8)

Fear is good, in combination with an understanding of God's love and grace. If it were not Jesus would not have emphatically declared:

"But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:5)

 

[Winken]

I was one of those Christians ten years ago (when I first put my faith in Christ) who was motivated largely by guilt and fear for the first four years of my Christian walk. I couldn't do anything, even things I knew were good, without suspecting something was wrong specifically with my participation in the activity. Pleasure itself became pain to me, as it always translated to guilt.

I must say in retrospect, however, that I understand now why God allowed me to suffer this. You must understand that God alone knows your heart, far more than even you know your own (Jeremiah 17:9, Ezekiel 11:19), and His wisdom in dealing with you in what He causes or allows is perfect. For myself, I understand that in my early Christian walk I would never have traveled so far across the desert if not for God's provision of consistent discomfort in my present circumstances. Just as the pain of a broken tooth drives you more to rectify the issue than an uncomfortable seat rouses you to move, so guilt and fear can propel you much farther than the feeling of admonishment at the end of the soft hand of grace and patience.

We like to try to convince God that we work better with comfort and ease, but really we often are simply deceiving ourselves into conflating feeling better with doing better. You must remember the admonishment of Paul:

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Never underestimate the power of fear to develop sincere character. Just as fear of discipline in youth rouses respect for the cause of the discipline, so fear of God's righteous discipline against our sin can rouse love for His commands. If you are a son of God, you will know discipline: "And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." (Hebrews 12:5-6)

He continues, "If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all." (Hebrews 12:8)

Fear is good, in combination with an understanding of God's love and grace. If it were not Jesus would not have emphatically declared:

"But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:5)

Thanks, Thir7ySev3n.......nothing compares to remarkable insight.

 

[Even So]

Someone has posted there is wisdom in the fear of the LORD. Also fear GOD and give Him glory in Rev 14, and fear not those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Mat 10:28 King James 2000 Bible. I will try to shorten this testimony. I too, walked in fear of hell for many, many years. I accepted JESUS as my Savior about 9-10. Baptized a few later. What have you. But this question is to you: is there anything you are doing now that basically goes against GOD'S rules? Although i had done that as a child, i walked away as a teen and stayed that way for about 30 years. When i was early twenties, i had a dream or vision of a place that was dark and smoky like, but you could see thru the smoke. A sinister style figure was in there, off in the distance talking to me, heading in my direction. Frozen, scared bleepless, i had no where to go. Trapped. Hopeless. You're done. You lost. Big time. Forever. Hard to believe i didn't soil myself. I don't want you to go there. To be fair, i was abusing an inhalant and passed out when i had the short "dream," so there is a devil's advocate for you. I ran thru the scenarios, and nothing anyone comes up with will tell me different. On a funny note i fell out of a rocking chair onto the floor ! I was out cold! But what i saw stuck with me for days, weeks, months, maybe a couple years til i pushed it out. I was so scared and it was so real i told no one about it for about 25 years because i knew... I have come to the realization that i was in the lake of fire. Anyways, my point is not til i stopped living the lie i was in did my fear of hell go away. I knew better but wasn't doing so. I am now at peace that i am going to Heaven based on GOD'S Grace, and not from fear of Satan, but of the LORD. I am sure if Satan puts me on the spot i may be afraid, some is healthy, but to live in fear of him is not what JESUS died for. Get your life straight if it isn't, and you will be able to relax. If this isn't you, i pray it helps someone who is in the same boat. Bless GOD!

 

[Dr Bruce Atkinson]

Recently he has delivered me from some demons. I didn't believe it was possible. Afterwards i wanted to obey out of love for him, because i am not worth being delivered from what he took from me.

So give it a try. Ask for your sins to be revealed to you and for you to understand how horrible they are. Ask him to put it on your heart heavy because you want to know what wanting him because you love him is.

Oops. See below.

 

[Dr Bruce Atkinson]

If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.
-- Psalm 130:3-4 (NIV)

The OT says in number of places that "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." Without faith, there is much to fear. In fact, faith begins with fear, for you must have at least a primitive faith in God in order to fear Him. But for those who trust in Christ and have given their lives to Him, we can be "anxious for nothing." To know Him is to love Him and "perfect love casts out fear."

 

[Even So]

You are aloud to copy the text I wrote and start a thread about it if you want

Thank you

 

[Blade]

FormerTweaker, I am 55 now.. and when I was I dont know 9 or so.. in this Baptist Church he talked about hell. That week I still remember the dreams...not good. Got saved. The second I put my knee down I keep crying. This FEAR is NOT OF GOD. He does not use it. Hell was never made for man. But those that follow satan get the same reward. Those are people that did not want Jesus. They heard JESUS is the only way.. they new it but still would not follow. SIN.. the wages of sin is death in this world. We all have sin..saved or not. That is not why anyone is lost. The books were open..to see if their name was written in them. Like Jesus told the 12.. dont be happy that demons are subject unto you but that your names are written in heaven. Since you know JESUS..your name is written in heaven. DONT let the enemy ROB you of this JOY!

If your heart is really for HIM then the OLD MAN is gone and ALL things will become new. IT WILL HAPPEN! You will just NOT want to do the past things any more. And FEAR will not be the reason. To this very moment...in all the wonderful awesome great beautiful things my Father has shown me... not once was FEAR HELL EVER EVER used. Never. This comes from the enemy and man. Some mean well but.. are not correct. And ANYONE that comes to Christ be it from fear or not.. HE will in no way cast them out. Keeps them all!

JESUS IS REAL! no.. HE IS REAL! TALK TO HIM! Read HIS WORD! And BELIEVE IT! TALK TO HIM! He is ALWAYS with you. This is why we DONT walk by FEELINGS. They are up and down and all over the place. We walk by faith. This faith that we are in right standing with the Father simply only because we believe in HIS SON! So you are RIGHTEOUS! GOD sees you SINLESS! So just what are you looking at? I dont care what man says. Jesus came died for the worlds sins. He cant die again. Its finished. So we do not do NOT freely sin. But if you do..we confess it and HE is faithful to forgive and cleans us from ALL unrighteousness! ALWAYS talk to HIM. He is NEVER EVER EVER EVER against you. And THINK. If He does not judge you nor condemn you.. who is? Whom the son has set free is free indeed.

You are so loved.. HIS JOY is your strength. Ask Him.. ask HIM to let you see how HE sees you. IT is NOTHING Like you have ever known. Not like we have always been shown and told. He LOVES YOU

 

[hiphopopotomus]

Surely Satan would reward us for doing wrong-not punish and torture us for eternity?In this regard the bible makes no sense at all.We do not get to hear Satan's perspective so do not really know what is in store for us if we sin.
And which of our sins are forgiven and which are not?Satan is not controlled by God so it is his choice how he treats those rejected by God.
How many of us have walked past a homeless person and not stopped to offer him a bed and food in our home?

 

[Soyeong]

Does anyone else have their faith in God based highly off of fear of Hell?

I have love of Jesus for dying for me and creating me. And was first drawn to the gospel by something else than fear of Hell. It was hope he'd remove a demon from me and something else long and complicated.

But fear of Hell has kept me from sinning and straying from the faith more than all else. I dislike some doctrines in the Bible, but I obey to submit to God just because he's God and out of fear of Hell. Not out of love. Things such as serving others and serving God by helping others has grown on me and I now do out of love for others and Him. He caused a change of heart in me. I am all for loving everyone too even our enemies. I agree with most of the New Testament. But I don't agree with some things in the Bible and the main reason I obey or don't support others doing them is fear of Hell.

I feel I need to change. I want a love of God to permeate my actions. Has anyone else went through this? What did you do to change?

I think that if our God would never do something that we'd disagree with, then there is a chance that we might actually be worshipping an idealized form of ourselves, but we know that God is good and has more knowledge and wisdom than we do, so we can have faith in Him to do the right thing even when we don't understand. There is a difference between how we react to a being that is powerful, unsafe, just, trustworthy, holy, righteous, and good and how to we react to a being that is powerful, unsafe, unjust, untrustworthy, unrighteous, and evil, so there is a difference between having a reverent fear of God and being afraid of God. Jesus said that if we love him, then we will obey His commands (John 14:15) and if we have faith in God about how we should live, then we will obey His commands, so obedience to God's commands is about growing in love and faith and thereby growing in a relationship with God. If you are not growing in a relationship with God through obeying His commands out of love and faith, then you are missing the whole point of obeying His commands, which is why Paul considered it to be rubbish (Philippians 3:8).

Makes me wonder how much I love God since some things in the Bible seem unfair to me.

How so?

 

[Thir7ySev3n]

Surely Satan would reward us for doing wrong-not punish and torture us for eternity?In this regard the bible makes no sense at all.We do not get to hear Satan's perspective so do not really know what is in store for us if we sin.
And which of our sins are forgiven and which are not?Satan is not controlled by God so it is his choice how he treats those rejected by God.
How many of us have walked past a homeless person and not stopped to offer him a bed and food in our home?

Satan is a tactician. Any tactician knows that you need a different approach for different people. Someone steeped in sin will likely be left alone and even strengthened emotionally by demonic entities through encouragement. Others steeped in sin but inclined to repentance are more likely to be attacked, as they are discontent but vulnerable. Those who already belong to Christ will be consistently attacked, which is why we are told to put on the armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-18).

If you had an enemy you truly and deeply despised, and you had considerable intelligence, how would you respond? If they are on the path to destruction, why interupt them, even if they enjoy their journey into a pit? If they are considering changing course, would you not redirect them in every way possible towards the path to destruction? And if they have turned from it completely, would you not attack them directly if you could escape unseen? It's logic 101 plus passionate evil. It isn't difficult to anticipate when the most opportune time is to be attacked, you just need to maintain a sober mind (1 Peter 5:8) and be filled with the Holy Spirit, who enables you to resist (Ephesians 5:18).

You can be forgiven all sins, but you must repent (Luke 13:3, Hebrews 10:26). You do not repent because repentance saves you, no works can save you (Galatians 2:21, Acts 4:12); you repent because it is the evidence you are saved. Jesus declared:

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)

Jesus did not say you can, but you will. No one who belongs to Him will not bear fruit (John 15:6). Our Lord continues:

"This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples (John 15:8)." So works prove that God has done a saving and sanctifying work in us. What does it mean to be sanctified? It is to be saved from the present power of sin over our wills, so that we are truly free to love and please God and to enjoy His presence in our lives (John 8:34-36).

God saves you for His glory (Ezekiel 36:22, 36), and it is His glory to demonstrate His power and His love through you. In Ezekiel, concerning the redemption of God's people He says: "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

So when you see that you have not obeyed Jesus as your Lord, you run to Him, and be sure you do; run to Him, and only Him. Then, when you have remembered His saving work in your life, you repent and submit to Him as Lord and allow Him to finish His work in you, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6)."

 

[bcbsr]

Does anyone else have their faith in God based highly off of fear of Hell?

I have love of Jesus for dying for me and creating me. And was first drawn to the gospel by something else than fear of Hell. It was hope he'd remove a demon from me and something else long and complicated.

But fear of Hell has kept me from sinning and straying from the faith more than all else. I dislike some doctrines in the Bible, but I obey to submit to God just because he's God and out of fear of Hell. Not out of love. Things such as serving others and serving God by helping others has grown on me and I now do out of love for others and Him. He caused a change of heart in me. I am all for loving everyone too even our enemies. I agree with most of the New Testament. But I don't agree with some things in the Bible and the main reason I obey or don't support others doing them is fear of Hell. Makes me wonder how much I love God since some things in the Bible seem unfair to me.

I feel I need to change. I want a love of God to permeate my actions. Has anyone else went through this? What did you do to change?

Fear of hell is derived from the curse of the law. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Gal 3:26

The fear of hell results in our realization that we cannot be saved by trying to live up to legal standards.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom 3:20-24

Those who embrace God's perfect love revealed in the gospel are freed from fear. For Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death— that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Heb 2:14,15

Consequently, Jesus said, "whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24

To fear hell is to indicate one does not believe the gospel. Obtaining a righteous standing with God is a matter of believing God's promise. "For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise." Gal 3:18 And

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about— but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." Rom 4:1-8

God gave Abraham a promise. Abraham believed the promise. And thus God credited rightouseness to him. And Abraham "did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Rom 4:20,21

"What must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Acts 16:30,31

If believe in Jesus, you will be saved. THE PROMISE IS CONDITIONED SOLEY ON FAITH WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED, else it would be of law. If you are confident that what God has promised he is able also to perform then you shouldn't have fear of condemnation. "For there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Rom 8:1 Believe it or not.

Part of the practice of this belief in God is not to fear. If you fear condemnation then you're putting your faith in your works.

 

[IAMANOBODY2015]

Fear of hell is derived from the curse of the law. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Gal 3:26

The fear of hell results in our realization that we cannot be saved by trying to live up to legal standards.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom 3:20-24

Those who embrace God's perfect love revealed in the gospel are freed from fear. For Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death— that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Heb 2:14,15

Consequently, Jesus said, "whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24

To fear hell is to indicate one does not believe the gospel. Obtaining a righteous standing with God is a matter of believing God's promise. "For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise." Gal 3:18 And

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about— but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." Rom 4:1-8

God gave Abraham a promise. Abraham believed the promise. And thus God credited rightouseness to him. And Abraham "did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Rom 4:20,21

"What must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Acts 16:30,31

If believe in Jesus, you will be saved. THE PROMISE IS CONDITIONED SOLEY ON FAITH WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED, else it would be of law. If you are confident that what God has promised he is able also to perform then you shouldn't have fear of condemnation. "For there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Rom 8:1 Believe it or not.

Part of the practice of this belief in God is not to fear. If you fear condemnation then you're putting your faith in your works.

This is probably true. But I still fear.

 

[crixus]

My belief in God is not due to a fear of going to Hell. My belief is because of my desire to go to Heaven. I don't even think about Hell because I trust Jesus. That's what it's all about.

 

[beebert]

Too much talk Only about heaven and hell. Jesus message was more than that.He came to give you LIFE here and now. "Eternity belongs to those who live in the present ". Christ came in order so that we might become truly human.

 

[beebert]

This is probably true. But I still fear.

I understand you. I too have feared and doubted a lot. But know that Christ died so that you might live with confidence, Peace and a good conscience. Know that he came to deliver you from guilt and fear, not in order to impose it upon you. Know that his message is not Only about the afterlife, but about this life as well. Believing otherwise is nihilistic. Know that he did not come to say that this life is a failure as many christians seem to think, but he came in order for us to embrace true life. That is one of the wonders of the incarnation, that many protestants refuse to understand, that Christ EMBRACED human life and showed us how true human life is like. And through his life, we can be transformed. Forgiveness is not the end of salvation, it is Only the beginning. And hell is just the consequence of saying no to God and yourself. It is a self-inflicted punishment. Hell does not exist from God's Point of view. God is subject and Free. Not object. Do you Think the essence of love wants you punished? It is just sadistic preachers like Jonathan Edwards who believes that. Hell is within man. It is non-being, the consequence of saying no to true being.

 

[rjs330]

Fear of hell is derived from the curse of the law. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Gal 3:26

The fear of hell results in our realization that we cannot be saved by trying to live up to legal standards.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom 3:20-24

Those who embrace God's perfect love revealed in the gospel are freed from fear. For Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death— that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Heb 2:14,15

Consequently, Jesus said, "whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24

To fear hell is to indicate one does not believe the gospel. Obtaining a righteous standing with God is a matter of believing God's promise. "For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise." Gal 3:18 And

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about— but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." Rom 4:1-8

God gave Abraham a promise. Abraham believed the promise. And thus God credited rightouseness to him. And Abraham "did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Rom 4:20,21

"What must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Acts 16:30,31

If believe in Jesus, you will be saved. THE PROMISE IS CONDITIONED SOLEY ON FAITH WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED, else it would be of law. If you are confident that what God has promised he is able also to perform then you shouldn't have fear of condemnation. "For there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Rom 8:1 Believe it or not.

Part of the practice of this belief in God is not to fear. If you fear condemnation then you're putting your faith in your works.

This is such a good post.

The fear of hell might not be a bad thing when we talk about salvation. But once we give our lives to Jesus our sins have been covered by his blood. We can live free from fear as we strive to live for him. Not perfectly but as long as we are not wilfully walking in sin we have nothing to fear.

 

[JacksBratt]

This is such a good post.

The fear of hell might not be a bad thing when we talk about salvation. But once we give our lives to Jesus our sins have been covered by his blood. We can live free from fear as we strive to live for him. Not perfectly but as long as we are not wilfully walking in sin we have nothing to fear.

Nobody should be fearing Hell.

The Christian is saved from it.
The non christian is not motivated by the idea going there.
The atheist doesn't think it exists...

Therefore, Hell should not be motivating anyone to do anything by fear.

 

[RaymondG]

I was one of those Christians ten years ago (when I first put my faith in Christ) who was motivated largely by guilt and fear for the first four years of my Christian walk. I couldn't do anything, even things I knew were good, without suspecting something was wrong specifically with my participation in the activity. Pleasure itself became pain to me, as it always translated to guilt.

I must say in retrospect, however, that I understand now why God allowed me to suffer this. You must understand that God alone knows your heart, far more than even you know your own (Jeremiah 17:9, Ezekiel 11:19), and His wisdom in dealing with you in what He causes or allows is perfect. For myself, I understand that in my early Christian walk I would never have traveled so far across the desert if not for God's provision of consistent discomfort in my present circumstances. Just as the pain of a broken tooth drives you more to rectify the issue than an uncomfortable seat rouses you to move, so guilt and fear can propel you much farther than the feeling of admonishment at the end of the soft hand of grace and patience.

We like to try to convince God that we work better with comfort and ease, but really we often are simply deceiving ourselves into conflating feeling better with doing better. You must remember the admonishment of Paul:

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Never underestimate the power of fear to develop sincere character. Just as fear of discipline in youth rouses respect for the cause of the discipline, so fear of God's righteous discipline against our sin can rouse love for His commands. If you are a son of God, you will know discipline: "And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." (Hebrews 12:5-6)

He continues, "If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all." (Hebrews 12:8)

Fear is good, in combination with an understanding of God's love and grace. If it were not Jesus would not have emphatically declared:

"But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:5)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

How is it now that you explain fear as being good?

 

[RaymondG]

This is a question for all the "Believe my interpretation of the bible or burn in hell" people.

Why do you feel Adams actions are more powerful than Jesus'?

Adam did one action and now, according to a lot of men, every human after him dont have to do anything and will burn in hell. You can literally live life, be good, dont do anything else and burn forever because of Adams actions.

Then comes Jesus....He died on the cross for the sins of the world.... Yet, according to men, it has no affect on every man after unless they do something....And this something varies according to the interpreter. I guess Adam was so powerful, that Even God cant overturn what he did without help and actions from every individual man. maybe Adam is the one to fear. Who are we really serving? The God of the Living? Or the father of the Scribes and Pharisee/religious leaders?

2.
Jesus called the Scribes and pharisees hypocrites because they said one thing and did another.

Jesus told us to forgive our brother of everything, all the time, completely, forever! If you dont, your Father in Heaven will not forgive you.

Men then turns around and say that God gives you 30Mins to get everything right, and if you dont, you will burn forever and will never be forgiven. Does this make any sense?

1000year = 1day to God literally, according to some men. therefore, if you live to be 80, that would be less than 30mins in the eyes of God.

God is no hypocrite. Mans wisdom is foolishness to God. Only God can give wisdom. Truth is Known, not learned.