GOD’S CHARACTER

The most neglected subject in the Church today is the knowledge of scripture. Not far behind is the knowledge of God. This is seen in one of the most common statements I often hear coming from the lips of self-described Christians, “All religions worship the same God.” Another one is, “God is all love, he is not the wrathful God of the Old Testament.” God reveals Himself in the pages of scripture so that we can love Him, worship Him, and be in relationship with Him. I can think of nothing that would anger Him more than to identify Him with the gods of other faiths and belief systems, including pagan gods. It is my endeavor to bring a greater knowledge of God so that the readers will have a biblical view of God and not a view based on the popular culture. The following are clips from A.W. Tozer’s Fiery Faith, as he explains the importance of knowing God’s Character.

“Behind all previous matter, all life, all law, all space and all time, there is God. God gives to human life its only significance; there isn’t any other apart from Him. If you take the concept of God out of the human mind, there is no other reason for being among the living. We are, as Tennyson said, “like sheep or goats, that nourish a blind life without a brain.” And we might as well die as sheep unless we have God in our thoughts. God is the source of all law and morality and goodness, the One who is the Word and the One that enables us to speak.

It is utterly necessary that we know this God, this One that John wrote about, this One that the poet speaks about, this One that that theology talks about and this one that we’re sent to preach and teach about. It is absolutely, utterly and critically necessary that we know this One, for you see, man fell when he lost his right concept of God.

I don’t suppose there is ever a time in the history of the world when we needed a restored knowledge of God more than we need it now. In recent times there has been a loss suffered. We’ve suffered the loss of that high concept of God, and the concept of God handled by the average gospel church now is so low as to be unworthy of God and a disgrace to the church. It is by neglect, degenerate error and spiritual blindness that some are saying that God is their  “pardner” or “the man upstairs.

Christianity has lost it’s dignity. And we’ll never get it back unless we know the dignified holy God, who rides on the wings of the wind and makes the clouds His chariots. We have lost the concept of majesty and the art of worship. But because the church has lost her lofty concept of God and no longer knows what God is like, her religion is thin and anemic, frivolous and worldly and cheap.

This is the day of the common man, and we have not only all become common, but we’ve dragged God down to our mediocre level. What we need so desperately is an elevated concept of God. Maybe by faithful preaching and prayer, and by the Holy Spirit, we can see the “splendours upon splendours beaming.” As we begin to focus upon God, the things of the spirit will take shape before our inner eyes. Obedience to the word of Christ will bring an inward revelation of the Godhead. It will give acute perception enabling us to see God even as promised to the pure in heart. A new consciousness will seize upon us and we shall begin to taste and hear  and inwardly feel God. Who is our life and our all. More and more, as our faculties grow sharper and more sure, God will become to us the great All, and His presence the glory and wonder of our lives.”

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THE FEAR OF GOD

We continue in our study to understand the person of God. In this section we will examine the concept of “the fear of God.” The ancient Israelites as portrayed in the Old Testament, displayed a proper fear of God as they had witnessed His power and His wrath. The modern Church no longer has this fear and this can be seen by the ungodly conduct of many Christians with behavior that is no different than that of unbelievers. The concept of the fear of God can be displayed by two Bible verses; (Luke 12:5), “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him,” and (Luke 12:32), “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” One verse tells us to fear God because He can send us to hell, and in the other verse we are told not to have fear because God wants to give us His kingdom. So, why such a difference? The answer lies in the audience being addressed. In the first verse Jesus is addressing a crowd of unbelievers, and in the second verse He is addressing His disciples. Those who do not have faith in Christ are in rebellion against God and are subject to His wrath. Those who belong to Christ are no longer subject to the penalty of sin, (which is death), and have peace with God. In either case, all persons must have a respectful fear of God due to His holiness and majesty. Scottish theologian and professor at Princeton Seminary, John Murray, explains this concept in the following journal quote:

“One of the most profound contributions by John Murray to an understanding of the Christian life is his chapter on “The Fear of God” in Principles of Conduct. Asking the question, What is the fear of God? he says that there are at least two obviously distinct senses in which the word “fear” is used in Scripture. “There is the dread or terror of the Lord and there is the fear of reverential awe. There is the fear that consists in being afraid; it elicits anguish and terror. There is the fear of reverence; it elicits confidence and love.… The fear of God in which godliness consists is the fear which constrains adoration and love. It is the fear which consists in awe, reverence, honor, and worship and all of these on the highest level of exercise.”

As Christians how are we to have a proper fear of God and how do we apply it in our lives? The Scriptures gives us the answers to these questions. We start with (Deut. 10:12), “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” A New Testament verse helps to bring balance between the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. The Apostle Peter gives us instruction from his 1st letter; “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each ones work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth,” (1Pet. 1:17). The verse from Deuteronomy instruct us that God requires all to fear Him, to follow His commandments, and to love and serve Him. Peter is instructing believers to live out their lives in the proper conduct as one who fears “the God” that judges their every action. God is instructing His people on how to live in this world in relation to Him and in relation to each other. His commandments and laws keep them from acting unjustly toward one other, and to keep worship directed only toward Him and away from idols. The message of many of the Old Testament books was that when the people were faithful and obedient to God and His commandments, then they would receive blessings. When they were not, then they received curses. “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known,” (Deut. 11:26-28). In addition, Psalm 111:10 informs us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and those who follow His commandments have a good understanding of this wisdom.

The author of the Book of Ecclesiastes ends his text with the following verse which is also the best way to end this article.

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil,” (Eccl. 12:13).