Wednesday, August 24, 2011

No Fear

I have seen in times past, on the windshield or perhaps on the back windows of cars, the words emblazoned, "No Fear." I have never investigated the exact purpose of the phrase but it does remind me of the scripture found in Romans 8:15, "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." I am glad that God did not give me a spirit of bondage to fear.

I remember many years ago that my wife and I had occasion to witness to a minister of another persuasion. He believed in the doctrine of eternal security. As we talked he seemed amazed that we didn't seem fearful. He said most Pentecostals he had met were driven to live an upright and godly life by fear of being lost . He said to us that he believed he could go out, get drunk, commit adultery against his wife, get a gun and kill us, then take his own life and go immediately into the arms of Jesus. When I pointed out that scriptures such as 1st Corinthians 6:9-10 or Galatians 5:19-21 in which the Apostle Paul said there were some actions that would keep people from heaven, he told me that there were more scriptures to support his position than to support mine. He was wrong but it does make for good preaching material.

The Bible says in 2nd Timothy 1:7 that, "...God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Again in 1st John 4:18 the Bible says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." How interesting that the preceeding verse has the term "No Fear" in it. No, we need not fear because the perfect love of God for us has cast out the fear of death. The Bible, speaking of the Lord Jesus, says in Hebrews 2:14-18, "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; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Jesus came to deliver us from an uncertain future.

That is why so many, down through the ages, were able to face persecution and even death because they put their trust in God who loved them and took away their fear. No, there is "no fear in love." The love God manifested through the Lord Jesus for you and I will take away from us the fear of death. If you have lived in fear all of your life, let me recommend Jesus Christ to you. He has paid the price for sin and you can be reconciled to God through Him and truly have, "No Fear!"  Don't delay, do it today!

2 comments:

  1. Those stickers refer to and adrenaline based way of living. Having no fear to ride the biggest wave or do something that is extremely risky and getting applause for it to be "the biggest risk taker". In essence it means to have "No Fear" of hurting yourself, but people like to put those stickers on their cars to make themselves look cool. I love your interpretation and the way you quote scripture to reflect on that idea of "no Fear". The truth around most of those particular people when faced with death would be full of fear.

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