Fearing God: Living A Life of Reverence

1 Peter 1:17-21

Five reasons why you should fear God and live a reverent life:

Heavenly FatherImpartial Judge

Blessed RedeemerHumble Substitute

Glorious Hope

Examples of God’s Judgment

Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)World in Noah’s Day (Genesis 6-8)

Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19)Egypt (Genesis 15:14; Exodus 7-12)

Worshippers of the Golden Calf (Exodus 32:26-35)

Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-3)Achan (Joshua 7)

Examples of God’s Judgment

Israel (2 Kings 17; 22:15-17; 23:26-27)Babylon (Daniel 4-5)

Jews who rejected Christ (Matthew 21:43-44)

Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)Herod (Acts 12:21-23)Elymas (Acts 13:8-11)Corinthian Christians

(1 Corinthians 11:29-32)

Fear God Because He Is (not only your Heavenly Father but)

Your Impartial Judge

Judgment for Christians(2 Corinthians 5:10)

Six Features of the Judgment of Christians Before Christ

Certain and Comprehensive

“A Christian may serve, but he must be judged. It is not optional, but

obligatory…Both the spiritual and the carnal, both the mature and immature, and both the clergy and the laity will be there. It is a judgment of the entire body

of Christ.” - Robert Gromacki

Exposing and Examining

phanerothanai = to be made manifestto be made clear / to be revealed

“To be made manifest means not just to appear, but to be laid bare, stripped of every outward façade

of respectability, and openly revealed in the full and true reality

of one’s character” – Philip Hughes

Bema = raised seat / platformoration / legal judgment

Pilate – Matt. 27:19Herod – Acts 12:21Gallio – Acts 18:16Festus – Acts 25:6

Caesar – Acts 25:10

“These verses contain an implicit forewarning: we must all appear before

the judgment seat of God. It is this divine judgment seat, not Pilate’s, not

Gallio’s, not the court of public opinion, that ultimately counts…We will be held accountable for our individual actions and commitments. The chances that

anyone might fool the God who knows even our subconscious thoughts are nil.”

David Garland

1 Corinthians 4:3-5

But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am

conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who

examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring

to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts;

and then each man's praise will come to him from God.

Individual and Recompensive

Komizo = “to receive back”

Conclusion

Fear God, live a reverent life

Because He is our heavenly Father

Because He is our impartial judge

1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.