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What does it mean to "fear"?
#171737
02/10/15 01:33 AM
02/10/15 01:33 AM
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OP
Global Moderator Supporting Member 2022
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Joined: Apr 2004
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What does it mean to "fear" in these verses?
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.
Prov. 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.
Prov. 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare: but whoso places his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Duet. 10:12 what does the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
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Re: What does it mean to "fear"?
[Re: dedication]
#171738
02/10/15 02:24 AM
02/10/15 02:24 AM
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OP
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Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'".
There is a spirit of fear that generates bondage. This kind of fear is not the beginning of knowledge.
2 Tim. 1:7. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Note: The word "fear" in the Bible must always be understood in view of the context in which it occurs.
A fear based mainly on terror of coming judgment does not change the heart, nor fit anyone for the heavenly kingdom. A person who obeys simply out of fear, is like those who receive the "mark" on their hands -- they do things merely to escape punishment but their hearts are not in it.
So what does it mean to fear God? And to love Him with all our hearts?
Scripture reveals that God desires obedience from a heart of love, and a mind that understands and appreciates that His ways are the ways of life and happiness.
The fear of the Lord is the fear of a loving, trusting child for a loving, godly Father.
It is such a reverence for God that the one who fears Him is filled with a great desire to please Him, and never to dishonor or bring shame to His Holy Name.
It is standing in awe of His love, of His holiness, of His power, and realizing that though He rules the universe, He desires our individual salvation; He desires our company!
The fear of the Lord is to know him --
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Ephesians 3:15-20 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
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Re: What does it mean to "fear"?
[Re: dedication]
#171745
02/10/15 03:57 PM
02/10/15 03:57 PM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
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Being afraid and being startled are two different forms of fear.
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Re: What does it mean to "fear"?
[Re: Mountain Man]
#171751
02/10/15 05:49 PM
02/10/15 05:49 PM
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Being afraid and being startled are two different forms of fear. Are you saying we should be either afraid or startled by God? Or is there ANOTHER definition of fear??? I think that is what Dedication is trying to get across. We have no reason to "fear" God, but we need to "fear God". Two completely different meanings. We have no reason to ever be afraid of God.
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: What does it mean to "fear"?
[Re: dedication]
#171752
02/10/15 06:01 PM
02/10/15 06:01 PM
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There is a spirit of fear that generates bondage. This kind of fear is not the beginning of knowledge.
You might compare the Hebrew and Greek words, how they are similar and different.
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Re: What does it mean to "fear"?
[Re: dedication]
#171755
02/10/15 07:35 PM
02/10/15 07:35 PM
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OP
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2 Tim. 1:7. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
The word for fear in the text above is deilia = fearful, lack of courage, cowardly
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear:
The word for fear in the text above is phobos = terror, fright, fear, dread
Acts 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with [his] hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. phobeō = to fear, flee from in fright, reverence, reverential obedience
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.
The Hebrew word in that text is yir'ah = fear, terror, reverence, awe, respect (it seems to have the full range of meanings)
Summary The fear of the Lord (as in respect, obedience, reverence, and love) and accepting Him as our Savior and being lead by His spirit, delivers us from the fear and terror of the wrath and death which is to come.
However, sinners who reject the liberation from sin, have Heb 10:27 "But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."
Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Pr. 14:27 The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
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Re: What does it mean to "fear"?
[Re: APL]
#171759
02/11/15 05:14 PM
02/11/15 05:14 PM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
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M: Being afraid and being startled are two different forms of fear.
A: Are you saying we should be either afraid or startled by God? Or is there ANOTHER definition of fear??? I think that is what Dedication is trying to get across. We have no reason to "fear" God, but we need to "fear God". Two completely different meanings. We have no reason to ever be afraid of God. "Perfect love" may not prevent us from being startled when a friend pops out of nowhere and screams. But it does prevent us being afraid of God and afraid of suffering and dying. I have never personally met someone who is afraid of God. But I have met people who are afraid of suffering and dying. I believe "perfect love" saves us from being afraid of suffering and dying. Like the martyrs, Jesus will supply the grace needed to handle suffering and the threat of death with dignity unto His honor and glory.
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Re: What does it mean to "fear"?
[Re: dedication]
#171760
02/11/15 05:17 PM
02/11/15 05:17 PM
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SDA Charter Member Active Member 2019
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However, sinners who reject the liberation from sin, have Heb 10:27 "But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." Yes, they cannot prevent themselves from being afraid.
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Re: What does it mean to "fear"?
[Re: Mountain Man]
#171769
02/11/15 09:36 PM
02/11/15 09:36 PM
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However, sinners who reject the liberation from sin, have Heb 10:27 "But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." Yes, they cannot prevent themselves from being afraid. And what or who are they afraid of??? What God will do to them that don't love Him?
Oh, that men might open their minds to know God as he is revealed in his Son! {ST, January 20, 1890}
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Re: What does it mean to "fear"?
[Re: dedication]
#171770
02/12/15 03:38 AM
02/12/15 03:38 AM
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OP
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The fear of the Lord is very much like "faith". It is reaching out to the life line that lifts us up and fits us to enjoy life everlasting! Without faith (fear of the Lord) their is a lot of fearful fear, because all that lies before those who are not walking in the "fear of the Lord" is certain destruction.
We are in a world that is headed for destruction
This world, steeped in sin, is headed for destruction. It can be no other way. All one needs to do is see what sin is doing to people, to children, to animals, to the environment -- the huge amount of suffering, cruelty, violence, despair, death, sickness, abuse, hunger, war and destruction, that is taking place daily.
Matt. 21:26 tells us: "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth"
The world is heading for some very frightening times.
How will we fare?
There are two main ways that Scripture talks about it. First, there is the fear of God; second, there is the fear of everything else.
The second type is a fear of loosing control over lives -- It’s the fear of losing what’s important to us, whether it be our job, our home, our family, our reputation, our health, our security and well being, or our lives.
When it comes to this kind of fear, the Bible says to abandon it. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
To understand -- image yourself in a terrible storm - a life threatening storm, like a huge tsunami and hurricane all combined.
The natural fear is one of loosing everything, possibly life itself. But then you see a light beckoning from a fortress on top of a mighty rock. You reach out and are lifted up into that fortress. You found a refuge and now have the hope of life. But not everything in the feeling called fear vanished. The storm is still raging, lashing all around. You realize that to leave your refuge would hurl you into certain destruction.
That's sort of like the "fear of the Lord".
The situations in this sinful world can give us fears that grip, paralyze, and control us. But the fear we need is one that turns and runs to God, finding shelter in him and trusting him in the midst of storms A fear that stands in awe of his amazing grace. The right kind of fear chases away all other fears.
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