ResponsiveReiding

1 PETER Part 10

Recap

1 Peter 1:1–25; 1 Peter 5:12

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Having been away from our study in 1 Peter for 2 months, it seemed reasonable to me to step back into our study by giving an overview of the letter once more – and then to draw some key principles out – helping us see our study in its context.

So I’ll begin by giving you a very broad outline of 1 Peter, and then we’ll look at some of the key concepts the Holy Spirit has provided here – aimed at equipping God’s People to live well for Him in a culture hostile to the Christian Worldview.

Some of the concepts might overlap a bit from chapter to chapter – but in general – the central idea in each is pretty easy to identify.

You might recall the confusion the Apostles faced in the immediate aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion. John 20:10 – “fear of the Jews”

They had believed in Jesus as God’s sent Messiah.

And they attached to that understanding, a certain sense of how Jesus’ Messiahship would play out.

That view was somewhat informed by OT prophecies which spelled out what the final manifestation of God’s Kingdom would look like.

Those images are fabulous and filled with joy and perfection.

Unfortunately, those concepts were not informed by an understanding that the Messiah would come FIRST as a suffering servant, dying as God’s atoning sacrifice for human sin on the cross, then rising again – and then to establish the fullness of the Kingdom when He returns.

They had an anticipation of the Messiah breaking the yoke of Roman oppression, restoring Israel as an independent state, and ushering in the fullness of God’s Kingdom on earth was what they were operating on.

It was a lofty and all-encompassing vision, anticipating an immediate fulfillment of all its parts.

And this view was still there even after His resurrection.

Acts 1:1-5 carries the account:

Acts 1:6

But in vs. 7, Jesus redirects their thinking.

How and when and what the Kingdom would look like in time, was not to be occupying their thoughts.

Wait for the promise of the Spirit – and then be my witnesses.

This was to be their focus – being Spirit empowered witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – until He returns.

Coupled with the way He had unfolded what the intervening future would look like in Matthew 24 – they would know WHY they needed His indwelling Spirit so badly – because life for many if not most Christians was going to be hard, and filled with many pitfalls and temptations and trials and opposition in the years until He returned.

This is what Peter had to come to grips with, and now he was living it and so were those he was writing to.

As we’ve noted before, Peter’s audience was most likely comprised of Christians – mainly Jewish Christians – who had been ejected from Rome, and forcibly relocated to this vast, backward area in Northern Turkey.

As Karen Jobes in her commentary notes: “The picture that emerges of the regions to which Peter wrote is one of a vast geographical area with small cities few and far between, of a diversified population of indigenous peoples, Greek settlers, and Roman colonists. The residents practiced many religions, spoke several languages, and were never fully assimilated into the Greco-Roman culture (Frank 1932: 374; S. Johnson 1975: 143; Yakar 2000: 61–65)^[1]”

They looked funny to the peoples in these regions. Sounded funny, had strange customs and had a worldview unlike any of their new neighbors.

They truly were “exiles” and dispossessed of their previous homes, environment and lifestyle – not to mention their former Christian community – life was in total disarray, and dangerous.

How then were they to live?

More – how were they to live Christ – live as The Church in these places?

This was overwhelming and would no doubt tempt them to hopelessness and maybe even abandoning the faith altogether.

How to live out the Christian life in a place that didn’t understand Christianity in the slightest, and worse, would be hostile to it?

Welcome to where 21^st century Christians will soon find themselves in this very country – as we see so many in foreign lands like Syria and other Middle-eastern societies – unless God intervenes.

OpenDoors is an organization committed to aide Christians in oppressive societies. Their website states: “According to The Pew Research Center, over 75% of the world’s population lives in areas with severe religious restrictions (and many of these people are Christians). Also, according to the United States Department of State, Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Jesus Christ.”

Additionally, in 2015: “More than 7,100 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons, said Open Doors president David Curry.

Open Doors also calculates that 2,400 churches were attacked or damaged, more than double the number in 2014.”

Overview:

Chap. 1 The internal struggles. Peter recognizes that those in such circumstances will suffer an identity crisis first of all.

How are they to think of themselves in this environment?

1 Peter 1:1–2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Elect Exiles

RACE, CITIZEN, PRIESTHOOD

The Spirit writing through Peter says: Remember that though you are exiles – you are God’s exiles – still His elect. And these two realities are not contradictory.

Christians must settle it in their own hearts, that hardship and opposition and being marginalized in a secular or hostile culture is NOT somehow contrary to still being God’s eternally elect people, and living under the tent of His mercy and all-encompassing grace.

No matter where life finds us in God’s Providence, we are still His, still called to be holy, and still to fix our hope on Christ’s return, and not a change in our outward circumstances.

Chap. 2 How we are to relate to those around us – especially the unbelievers.

[[  IMAGE  ]]  1 Peter 2:9–12 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ¹¹ Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Christians have this amazing calling and privilege to “proclaim the excellencies of His who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

And so they were not to simply buck the system of the government that persecuted this way – but to submit to it all they could as part of God’s appointment.

It is a bold and counter-intuitive call to live supernaturally for the sake of blessing those around us – even those who might persecute us.

To make the places we live in better places for all – because we are there.

This submission to secular authorities and governments was not absolute however.

As we saw in our study – if ANY AUTHORITY – Employer, Government, Elder or even a parent: REQUIRES us to do anything God’s Word forbids us to do…

OR

FORBIDS us from doing anything God’s Word requires us to do – in those instances, we not only can, but we MUST disobey.

Yet this is done with honor and respect, and not in anger or retaliation.

Chap. 3 Personal relationships with both believers and unbelievers.

Beginning with husbands and wives.

Even when such relationships complicated when one is a Believer and the other is not.

Then with neighbors and any others we might engage with.

We have BEEN blessed, that we might bless.

1 Peter 3:14–18 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Chap. 4 Continuing to minister to others tho opposed in circumstances. Do not leave off improving the graces in you by the Spirit. Employ them to bless others.

We do this for society as a whole – but ESPECIALLY toward other Believers.

1 Peter 4:7–11 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Chap. 5 Not abandoning “church” in troubled times.

1 Peter 5:1–5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ² shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. ⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Those with shepherding skills, are not to stop serving in that capacity, nor are those who are being shepherded to cease from living in that relationship to the Church.

This then is what Christianity looks like, lived under less than optimal circumstances.

Let me draw out a few observations and principles then from this overview of 1 Peter.

1. Suffering is not contrary to the Gospel nor to be thought of as a defeat for the Christian.

Abraham Kuyper: The world after the fall is no lost planet, only destined now to afford the church a place in which to continue her combats; and humanity is no aimless mass of people which only serves the purpose of giving birth to the elect. On the contrary the world now, as well as in the beginning, is the theatre for the mighty works of God, and humanity remains a creation of His hand, which, apart from salvation, completes under this present dispensation, here on earth, a mighty process, and in its historical development is to glorify the name of Almighty God.

2. Love for the souls of lost people, and for those in Christ is not to be replaced by anger, fear, retaliation or rebellion.

3. Love and fidelity to Christ and His Church must continue.

4. Holiness is still to be pursued – not caving to the morals of the culture.

5. Being in difficult circumstances is to be co-opted by the Christian – because of Grace and the Indwelling Spirit, for displaying Christ in this dark world, and for learning how to deny self in combatting sin.

6. Our hope is to remain fixed on what will be ours when Christ returns – not in a change of outward circumstances.

7. Look at the amazing privilege Christ has purchased for Believers in His death, burial and resurrection. To live above the world in these ways, while still in it.

This a high, and amazing call.

It is one which will mark us out as so different from everyone around us, that they cannot help but wonder why we have such hope and peace. And why we do not retreat from the world to form our own little enclaves.

And such can ONLY be lived in the power of Christ’s Spirit – informed by His Word, and relied upon in utter reliance upon Him in prayer.

If God move us not, we cannot move: therefore, it is a most necessary part of our christian wisdom, to keep our subordination to God, and dependance on him; to be still in the path where he walks, and in that way where his Spirit doth most usually move. Take heed of being estranged or separated from God, or of slacking your daily expectations of renewed help, or of growing insensible of the necessity of the continual influence and assistance of the Spirit. When you once begin to trust your stock of habitual grace, and to depend on your own understanding or resolution for duty and holy walking, you are then in a dangerous, declining state. In every duty remember Christ’s words, “Without me ye can do nothing;” (John 15:5;) and, “not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to do any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.” (2 Cor. 3:5.)^[2]

^[1] Karen H. Jobes, 1 Peter (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005), 22.

^[2] Baxter, Richard & William Orme. 1830. The Practical Works of the Rev. Richard Baxter. . Vol. 22. London: James Duncan.

Facing a Fearful World.

Read: MATTHEW 10:1-33

Luke 2:8–14

John 12:12–15

Revelation 1:9–18

In the aftermath of last year’s terrorist attacks – like:

the November attack in Paris that took so many lives…

followed so quickly by the San Bernardino attack in December…

Then the foiled attack here in Rochester on New Year’s Eve…

These added to the constant news of ISIS and its horrific growth and action, coupled with the upcoming election…

It seems only natural for fear to begin to rule the day.

Believers and unbelievers alike – at this moment in time – can be absolutely ruled by fear of what’s coming next.

As Vishal Mangalwadi wrote in: The Book that Made Your World – “In turbulent times, people tend to bow to whoever promises security, stability, and justice.”

Yet, for those who are in Christ by faith, God’s Word bids us to a very different mindset.

The Biblical mindset is not one that ignores that some things are truly fearful – but one that is driven by faith MORE than fear.

One that recalls a sovereign God still working in His world.

A mindset ruled more by the revealed truth of His Word than by the news, the commentators, the pundits – AND, our own imaginations.

This is not to ignore very real and present dangers – but it is to put them back into perspective.

Back into the framework that reminds us that God has a plan for human history – and that all things will be seen finally to converge into the fulfillment of that plan – no matter how scary and out of control the world around us is, or seems.

This is the hope – and not a BASELESS hope – but the ASSURED hope of those who are Christ’s by faith in His atoning death.

Those who are born again by the Spirit of God.

If there is one thing I personally find increasingly troublesome in our own secular age, it is how easily people seem to be placated, at least for small amounts of time, by mere, sentimental platitudes spun out in every direction.

Biblical hope does not just emptily say: “Things will be alright.”

Or even just “FEAR NOT”.

The Prophet Jeremiah faced a remarkably parallel situation to ours in his day in ancient Israel.

His nation, on the brink of economic collapse and military destruction by a foreign nation – said this by the Holy Spirit: Jeremiah 6:12–15

¹² Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and wives together, for I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the Lord.”

Why should such a situation exist? He goes on: ¹³ “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.

And when such corruption exists, prophets and priests and those who wish to calm their own souls will turn to empty platitudes to make themselves and others feel better.

Jeremiah describes that condition this way:  ¹⁴ They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.

And why no real peace?  ¹⁵ Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the Lord.

A powerful and insightful indictment.

I for one cannot imagine that our own nation will be spared further troubles, even by the hand of God in the face of our own moral and spiritual decline.

Indeed, only a wholesale revival, a supernatural outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon the Church – calling us AS THE CHURCH back from our sin and compromise in as much as we too have fallen into rank materialism and moral ambiguity – and then on the general populace – calling multitudes to forsake their sin and turn to Christ for forgiveness.

But as we pray and wait for such a revival – IF, the Lord should be pleased to pour it out before what remains of our Biblically informed culture (even if it is only informed in the slightest bit) is snuffed out altogether – what hope, what help can the Believer count on in such fearsome times?

The New Testament speaks to this tendency to fearfulness in 4 key places.

3 by Jesus Himself.

But 4 places I’d like to examine just briefly with you this morning.

And I want you to take notice in each of these, that the command to “fear not” is never spoken in the abstract – as an empty platitude without foundation.

In each case, there is a “BECAUSE”. A “FOR” – that calls us to rest in a Biblical reality which is the comfort of those in Christ – no matter what the external circumstances may be.

It is NOT a word to us that we will be spared what is genuinely fearful.

Nor is it an encouragement to all mankind that they can just keep on defying the right of God to rule their hearts and lives and assume He will bless them anyway.

These things, belong properly and exclusively to those are truly His by faith.

The 1^st comes to us in the passage we had read for us as we began this morning:

1. Matthew 10:16-23 / 28–31 Fear not, because God’s Children are greatly valued by Him.

The context here is familiar to all of us.

Jesus is sending His 12 disciples out on their first mission to teach, preach and heal in Judea.

And He pulls no punches. This is a mission that is going to be fraught with danger.

So He prefaces everything by warning them:  ¹⁶ “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, ¹⁸ and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹ When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ²⁰ For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ²¹ Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ²² and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved…

And if that were all He said – I’ve little doubt anyone would have gone a step further. The 12 would have said: “NO THANKS!”

But He doesn’t stop there.

Yes, the dangers will be real, and they will be harrowing and fearful.

But listen to what comes next: ²⁸And 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.

Did you catch that last phrase?

This isn’t just “chin up! You’re off doing God’s work you know” – no.

He then says no matter what, you have to keep in mind this amazing fact of just how valuable you are in the eyes of your God.

Christian, you are not expendable fodder – just pawns on a cosmic chessboard.

You are God’s won children, His prize, His dear children, choice in His eyes.

Now the Disciples at this point had little more than Jesus’ word on it.

But we – we have the Cross to look back upon.

As Believer’s we can see what He was willing to pay in order to secure us unto Himself.

What a cost! The very life and blood of Christ the everlasting Son!

So we can exclaim with the Apostle Paul: Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

2. Luke 2:8–14 / Fear not because our Savior has come.

We can hardly pass up this next passage especially at this time of the year where we have just celebrated the incarnation.

The words in this text, are glorious words spoken to the Shepherds by angels when they appeared to them announcing Jesus’ birth.

⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Once again notice that the admonition to “fear not” is not in the abstract – not even “fear not because we said so” – even tho they were angels!

No, the shift from fear to faith is rooted here in that fact the Savior has been born –

Born as prophesied –

Born in the City of David as prophesied –

And that this Savior is Christ – THE LORD!

God in human flesh!

Peter alludes to this same concept in 1 Peter 3 – something we’ll unpack in more detail later in our study there –

But notice this for now: 1 Peter 3:13–15 ¹³ Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

We face the worst of all the uncertainty of this fearful world in its fearful state by refusing to give these fearful things any honor in our hearts – but instead – honoring Jesus Christ as the Lord and Sovereign Ruler over all – even over the worst of our enemies!

And THAT Beloved – in this fearful age, is so absolutely counter-intuitive and contrary to human reasoning – that in these dark times, people will be compelled to seek us out and ask us why we are not all tied up in the same knots they are over everything.

It is a testimony to our God of the highest order when we face fearful things in such utter confidence and joy because of Christ.

Christ has come.

The Lord of all is alive forever more!

3. John 12:12–15 / Fear not because God’s Word is true and unfailing.

¹² The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. ¹³ So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” ¹⁴ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, ¹⁵ “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

Why should Jesus riding on a donkey’s colt into Jerusalem be of any comfort at all – so that Jesus should say to them “fear not” on this occasion?

The connection isn’t hard to make: Even the most obscure of details in prophecy cannot fail – but will all be fulfilled.

If even this seemingly insignificant and obscure prophecy from Zechariah 9 – uttered some 500 years earlier – was certain, then how absolutely sure are His other promises?

The promise to cleanse from all sin and guilt – everyone who comes to Him by faith.

His intention to keep all of His own and lose none of us –

His promise to be always with us, even to the very end of time –

His promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit –

His promise to complete the work of conforming us to His image –

The promise of His 2^nd coming –

The promise of the resurrection unto eternal life of every Believer –

The promise of eternal life and the New Heavens and the New Earth –

The promise of the end of all sin, all suffering, and injustice, all pain and sorrow and tears and death!

Fear not – Because “Heaven and earth will pass away, but not the slightest jot or tittle of His Word will in any wise fail.

Not one letter or punctuation point!

NOTHING!

Lastly:

4. Revelation 1:9–18 / Fear not because of who and what Christ is in His reigning glory and power.

Last, consider this portion in Rev. ch. 1.

John is on the Island of Patmos when he receives this incredible vision of Jesus Christ.

He sees and hears Jesus – who commissions him to send messages to the 7 churches in Asia Minor.

In that vision he sees Jesus represented in unspeakable glory – and depicted as walking among His churches.

He is clothed in a long robe –

He has a golden sash around His chest

His hair is white like wool

His eyes like a flame of fire and His feet like burnished bronze

His voice is like the roar of many waters

In His right hand He holds 7 stars –

From His mouth comes a sharp – two-edged sword

And His face is shining like the sun in its full strength.

⁹ I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet ¹¹ saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” ¹² Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, ¹⁵ his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. ¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

The Christ who has come in human flesh and walked among us –

Is the same Risen Christ who STILL walks among His Churches – from the most faithful and dedicated, to the weakest and most infirm.

And this Christ, our Lord and Savior Jesus is:

1. “The first and the last” – The one who is the sum of all God’s plans and purposes.
2. “The living one” – Crucified but risen – with power over death.
3. Has “the keys of Death and Hades” – Has absolute authority over all life and death, and the judgment of all sin in the flames of Hell itself.

Satan does not rule Hell – Christ does!

ISIS does not rule death – Christ does!

The Congress doesn’t have ultimate authority – Christ does!

No political party has carte blanche – Christ does!

No power on earth has absolute power and authority – Christ does!

And this Christ, this Jesus, is the one who gave His life for us, that we might have cleansing from all sin and guilt in His own blood –

That we might be delivered from the wrath of God –

And who will ultimately judge all humanity in perfect righteousness – with the power to carry out final sentence upon all.

This one is the Believer’s Savior, Healer, Master, Friend and Brother.

FEAR NOT! Christian.

We’ve no true idea of just how much value God places upon His children –

Our Christ has come and died for our sins and risen again –

Every minute prophecy about Him He completely fulfilled, which gives us every ground to believe the remaining promises He will still fulfill

And in His resurrected glory He rules and reigns not just in Heaven – but over the earth and all those in it.

FEAR NOT! Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Now let me ask – do you know Him as YOUR Lord?

Or is this Christ your enemy?

If He is not your Lord, if you’ve not been reconciled to Him, you have EVERYTHING to fear.

This world is a terrifying place and you ought to be terrified in it.

More, God’s judgment upon all who reject Him is infinitely more terrifying yet!

But if you are His by faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice, you have NOTHING to fear, no matter how fearful things may be.

Nothing to fear in all of Heaven or Earth.

Nothing past, nor present nor yet in the future.

For as the Apostle Paul so potently said: Romans 8:31–39  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.