During Advent, we reflect on why Jesus came into this world. It is good to be refreshed in the story of our rescue, the story of Christ coming into our world to bring light amidst darkness, hope among despair, freedom amidst bondage, peace amidst fear, joy amidst sorrow, and love amidst hatred and war. Our King has come and has conquered evil and destroyed the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). For this reason he came. He came to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21).
What was the purpose of the first advent of Christ?
To Save Us, Sinners
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 ESV
To Destroy Evil In Our Lives
“Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 ESV
To Reveal God’s Love To Us
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9 ESV
To Give Us Life Eternal and Abundant
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9 ESV
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 ESV
To Be The Atoning Sacrifice For Our Sin
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1John 4:10 ESV
These are some key reasons why Jesus came but you may be able to find several more purpose statements about why Jesus came. I exhort you to search out these reasons in the Scripture and see how many you can find and reflect upon them this month.
Prayer
Father, we pray that your Kingdom will come on earth as in heaven. We ask that your righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) would increase in the hearts and lives among us and our families, communities, cities and beyond. We pray the truth of your word would spread rapidly in this Advent season and be heard, received and honored (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
May the word of Christ dwell in us richly this Advent (Colossians 3:16). May the influence of the word of truth increase in our lives and sanctify us (John 17:17).
How do you reconcile the many passages of Scripture that call God’s people to not be afraid and those which call them to fear the Lord? The Old Testament has much to say about the fear of the Lord and contrary to what some people say the New Testament also has a good deal to say about the fear of the Lord.
Here are some passages in the OT that may puzzle some of us:
Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” Exodus 20:20 ESV
“And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart…
Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.”1 Samuel 12:20, 24 ESV
So which is it? Fear or don’t fear?
There are also NT passages that teach us to fear the Lord such as:
Jesus On the Fear Of the Lord
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:26-31 ESV
Here again, we see coming from the lips of our Lord do not be afraid and fear God. You and I are designed for awe and wonder and this is to be centered around the Lord, who created us for Himself. If we fail to live in awe of God, or in the fear of the Lord, then we will be subject to all sorts of other fears dominating our life.
Peter of the Fear of the Lord
The Apostle Peter wrote: Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:17 ESV
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. 1 Peter 1:17
Paul on the Fear Of the Lord
The Apostle Paul wrote:
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. 2 Cor. 5:11 ESV
…They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. Romans 11:22 ESV
John On The Fear of The Lord
The Apostle John hear an Angel say:
“Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Revelation 14:7 ESV
So it’s evident that both the NT and OT teach the fear of the Lord and call God’s people to not fear evil, people, trouble, death, etc…
Some passages are also very clear about us not walking in a certain type of fear such as these:
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15 ESV
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 ESV
So what do we make of these two concepts that the Bible teaches? We have all seen enough of unhealthy toxic fear in our lives that robs us of quality of life. Clearly, a tactic of Satan is to use this kind of fear to keep people in bondage. Yet the fear of the Lord is clean and pure (Psalm 19:9). The fear of the Lord describes a life that is oriented towards God and worshipful of Him.
Luke wrote about the early church walking this:
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Acts 9:31 ESV
Here are so ways that godly men have distinguished between the two fears that Scripture addresses:
• A forbidden fear vs. a fear commanded- John Bunyan
• Bondage fear vs. reverential fear – Stephan Charnock
• Filial fear vs. servile fear – George Swinnock
• Idolatrous fear vs. worshipful fear – John Gill
• Fear that draws men further from God versus fear that drives men toward God. – Charles Spurgeon
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved- John Newton
This last quote from the most loved hymn Amazing Grace has been so helpful for me as I’ve wrestled with seeing the compatibility of the fear of the Lord and New Testament grace. It reminds me of the powerful words of the Prophet Jeremiah when he wrote about the New Covenant:
I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. Jeremiah 32:39-40 ESV
The reality that God puts a holy fear of Him in us is a gracious gift. And that fact that through this holy fear, we are kept from departing from Him is also God’s grace, which helps sustains us.
The gospel of Jesus addresses our deepest fears, such as fear of death, rejection, and judgment, by Christ taking the punishment for sin, tasting death for us, and becoming sin for us that we might become to the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Knowing what Christ has done for us relieves us of the paralyzing toxic fear, while at the same time, we are awestruck by who God is and what great things He has done for us at the cross. We respond as Psalm 2 instructs us to:
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2:11-12 ESV
We are those who have fled to Jesus for refuge and reverently welcome his reign in our lives, knowing that he has bore the wrath of God’s judgment for our sin (1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:1-2). Our hope is in Christ alone.
Note the fear of the Lord is accompanied by hope:
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33:18 ESV
…the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 147:11 ESV
Perhaps some of us need to recover a healthy fear of the Lord and be relieved through the gospel of the unhealthy fears in our life.
The Scripture highlights several benefits to walking in the fear of the Lord and the consequences for not doing so. Here are some benefits:
The fear of the Lord leads to life,and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. Proverbs 19:23
Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psalm 25:12-14 ESV
…by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. Proverbs 16:6 ESV
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:26-27 ESV
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! Psalm 34:9 ESV
May you and I experience all the benefits of this holy fear in our lives as we ‘work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that God who works in us, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.’ Philippians 2:12-13
May we be delivered from every toxic fear that Scripture calls us to courageously resist so that we might glorify God more fully with our lives (Psalm 34:4).
If you’re inclined to worship the Lord in light of these biblical truths here is a great song to lead you in your worshipful response.
There are many reasons that the gospel of Jesus Christ is glorious. One of the reasons is that Christ brings FREEDOM to those who are in bondage to sin. The Apostle Paul wrote “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2 ESV) Christ gives His people freedom from the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23, 5:1), which would mean condemnation, death, & judgment for the sinner. He gives freedom from the power of sin so that His people are no longer dominated & slaves to sin (Romans 6). Many people including myself have experienced freedom from drug & alcohol addiction through believing in Christ. I have seen some seemingly hopeless addicts & alcoholics delivered by the power of the gospel. Christians have been freed from the penalty & power of sin and brought into a glorious liberty to serve the living God. The penalty of sin which is death has been taken care for the believer in Christ (Romans 6:23). He now possesses the free gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. The power of sin has been broken in Christ. We are free from law of sin and death. Freedom comes from knowing the truth and namely the One who embodies truth Jesus Christ (John 8:31-32, 14:6).The Spirit gives us life and freedom! Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom (2 Cor. 3:17)! The Holy Spirit leads us into the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by helping us know the truth and believe the truth we are set free, and no longer slaves to sin (John 8:31-32). He who the Son sets free is free indeed. One day Christ will deliver His people from the very presence of sin. One day “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 ESV) …But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27 ESV)
Another thing that makes the gospel glorious is the FELLOWSHIP with God that believers experience. We are now brought into relationship with the Father and the Son, which Jesus called eternal life (John 17:3). Either you know him or you don’t. You either have the Spirit of God in you or you don’t. This fellowship with God that we experience is through the presence of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. We have become the Spirit of God’s dwelling place, the very temple of God.
Here are some of the graces of being in fellowship with God:
Instruction-8:14 (He leads us, guides us and instructs us)
Intimacy -8:15 (We come to God and call Him Father. We are not orphans)
Identity -8:16 (We are God’s children and we belong to God’s family. This is our identity.)
Inheritance -8:17 (We have been given everything we need & more; Ephesians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3)
Intercession-8:26 (He intercedes for us and helps us in our weaknesses)
The last reason that I will give for the gospel being glorious is the FUTURE that God the Father has graciously planned & secured for His children (Romans 8:18-37). The Father has glory & good in store for His children. We will see the glory of God (Romans 8:18), we will have glorified bodies (Romans 8:23), and we will be glorified with the Lord (Romans 8:30). God will work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), He is for us & always will be (Romans 8:31), He will freely give us all things (Romans 8:32) and nothing will separate us form His love (Romans 8:37-39)
God is the gospel. Gospel means good news and God is good. From his goodness the Father sent his Son Jesus to save us from our sins (Matt. 1:21). Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, declaring & displaying the Kingdom of God. Then he suffered & died for our sins, was buried and raised from the dead. Now he has provided forgiveness of sin and freedom from sins dominion, to those who believe in Christ. Christ demands that you repent of your sin and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). Not only has Christ provided forgiveness of sin and freedom from sins dominion. He has brought us into fellowship & friendship with him forever (John 15:14, 17:3). Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God the Father and the Son.
Have you experienced the joy of salvation? There is great joy to be experienced by the forgiven saint (Psalm 32:1). There is much joy to be experienced by the one who knows God and spends time in His presence (Psalm 16:11).
Joy inexpressible and full of glory is given to the believer In Christ (1Peter 1:8). Rejoice you Children of God, who have been bought, redeemed and loved by the Father!!!
For The Gospel's Sake 