The terror or fear that Paul is talking about here is not that of eternal damnation, but rather the fear that should dwell in the hearts of God's children--a reverential awe and holy respect for the Lord. There has to be a balance to the idea that some people only want to think about God as a buddy and ignore the fact that He is also a consuming fire. It was vital in Paul's mind that the Corinthians embraced Paul's words as a consistent revelation of God's truth, because in order to have godly fear, one has to have a healthy respect for the authority and trustworthiness of God's word--the word Paul proclaimed. Those seeking to undermine Paul and his ministry were seeking to deceive and take into captivity the Corinthian believers. Paul argued that the truth of his words and life were obvious and transparent before God and should be so to the Corinthians too. Thus they should not be led astray by the lies of those who undermined Paul. Finally, Paul showed that he had died in Christ which meant that the focus wasn't upon him since he was no longer his own. Everything belonged to Christ--that old Saul with all of his rights, hopes, desires, habits, ambitions, etc, ceased to exist and the life he now lived was in Christ and for Christ.
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“ Great Sermon! ” These are very inportant truths, GOD is working through the HOLY SPIRIT to convict and save people through reverential fear which results in drawing people to a closer relationship with HIM. Thank You.
Sharon S. (7/25/2008)
“ Great Sermon! ” Thank you so much for this sermon which nourished my soul. This reverential awe of God has been lost in most of the gatherings of "christians" that I have been associtated with. In a neighborhood Bible study conducted by a PCA elders' wife, I was the lone person, rejecting Rick Warren's book. Needless to say, I was looked on as a divisive person.
When the majority of "christians" and even pastors promote books by Warren, Wilkinson (Jabez), and Hybels' model for church growth, one is alone when taking a stand against the status quo. He/she is told not to be divisive, and that a christian is called to submit to leadership.
I've listened to this sermon twice, and I hope to listen again. The Truth of God's Word faithfully presented brings comfort to my heart. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Pastor Derek.
I still have a problem with a christian having no rights, and everything in me asks, "is this so?" Does it mean passivism? I tend to be much more one driven to take a stand. If God had allowed and I had been born a man, I have the heart of a Wilberforce. Is it wrong to stand for what is right always?
Derek Carlsen is a native Zimbabwean and was a resident in that country until he was called to be the pastor of the Church of Christian Liberty from April 2003 to September 2005. Following this, he became founding pastor of Covenant Reformed Church of Elk Grove in Elk Grove...
#9 - Top Played Sermon (48-Hours) on 7/26/2008
