Some years ago, a gospel preacher told me something that has stuck with me. I suppose I was rather surprised at it. These are far from his exact words, but they represent the gist of what he said:
"I think these people who serve God just to stay out of hell are going to end up there."
Now some might question my preacher friend's statement. After all, these people he's speaking of clearly fear God. And doesn't the Bible plainly teach us to do just that?
Indeed it does. Ecclesiastes 12:13 instructs us to "fear God, and keep His commandments." Philippians 2:12 warns us to work out "your own salvation with fear and trembling." And how about I Peter 2:17, which tells us to "Fear God. Honour the king"? Nor are those the only verses in the Bible we could quote to show that we are to have a respectful fear of our Creator.
So wasn't my preacher friend wrong? Well, no.
But in light of the verses I just quoted, how can I say that?
Well, because I'm pretty sure that what my friend meant was simply this:
In order to go to heaven, you must not only fear God, but love Him as well.
You see, I think my friend was talking about people who go through the motions of Christianity, but whose HEART isn't really in it. Oh, they'll go to church and refrain from certain sins because they dread the idea of burning in hell for eternity. But they don't have any real enthusiasm for the work of God, or love for the Lord. They're just trying to avoid the consequences of wrongdoing.
They remind you of someone who would kill a person he doesn't like, if he wasn't afraid of going to prison or getting the death penalty. The man who's full of hate may not actually take the life of the person he despises. But he has such hatred in his heart that God considers him a murderer anyway (I John 3:15).
People who "serve God" just to stay out of hell are like that. They are doing the right thing outwardly, but inwardly they are wrong. Here's why.
Jesus taught us that we were to serve God not just out of FEAR of Him, but also out of LOVE for Him. Indeed, in Mark 12:30, Christ told us that the first commandment is to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and will all thy strength."
In fact, the need for both love and fear of God is perfectly summed up in Deuteronomy 10:12: "What doth 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."
So the person who fears God, but doesn't love Him, has only gotten things half-right. And that won't be enough to get him to Heaven!
But, you might ask, how do we develop a love for God while at the same time fearing Him? How can you love someone you fear?
It's simple. If you had Godly parents, you knew they loved you, and you in turn loved them. But you knew they wouldn't hesitate to spank you, or punish you in another way, if you got out of line! You feared their punishment...yet you also loved them.
It's like that with God. We can love and fear him all at the same time.
But what if you fear God, yet realize you haven't loved Him? How do we develop that necessary love?
Let me briefly suggest three simple ways: (1) Reflect on the great love He had for us by having His son Jesus die an agonizing death on the cross for our sins (John 3:16); (2) Reflect on, and be thankful for, the everyday blessings you enjoy (I Thessalonians 5:18); and (3) Reflect on the heavenly reward that a loving God will give faithful Christians! (Matthew 19:21).
By all means, let's honor our God by fearing him. But let's remember that, just as a light bulb is useless without electricity, fear won't work without love.
Brother Phillip lives in Gilmer, TX, and may be contacted here.
My friends, there are many different and confusing teachings (doctrines) out there. Some say, "Faith only saves you." I invite you to look at James 2:24, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and NOT by faith only." (emph mine, MRH)
The Bible mentions six different things we must "DO" to be saved. Proving any one of them in no way disproves another. I will list them here, and ask you to check them whether they are so.
1. You must first hear in order to be saved: Romans 10:17
2. You must believe Jesus is the Son of God in order to be saved: Romans 10:17 Luke 8:13 John 1:12 John 8:24 John 20:31
3. You must repent in order to be saved: Luke 13:3,5 Acts 3:19
4. You must confess that Jesus is Christ in order to be saved: Luke 12:8 Romans 10:9 I John 4:15 Acts 8:37
5. You must be baptized (not rhontized) in order to be saved: John 3:5 Mark 16:16 Acts 2:38 I Peter 3:21 Galatians 3:27
6. You must remain faithful unto death in order to be saved: Revelation 2:10 I Timothy 4:16 I John 2:24,25
My friend will you not consider the way of God rather than the way of man? If I can assist you in finding someone to help you do this, please write me. It would be an honor.
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"Are You Really Sure Of Your Eternal Salvation?"
I believe this is an excellent resource for Bible Study, "The Preacher."
"Are You Worshipping God In Spirit And In Truth?"
Companion site to the one above. Also excellent, "The Preacher."
Can The Church Win Against The World?