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NASB | 1 Peter 1:17 ¶ If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Peter 1:17 ¶ If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth. |
Subject: Fear God! |
Bible Note: And a HUGE reason behind that is we have grown accustomed to the state telling us where our boundaries are as believers. While I do not hold the view that the power of the sword belongs to the church, we too readily accept the notion that religion is a "private matter" and the gospel should only be proclaimed where it is legally permissible to do so without starting controversy. Compare that with the words of the apostles: 'And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."' --Acts 4:18-20 Would that we were truly a people who literally could not stop talking about what God in his mercy has revealed to us, no matter how much it ruffles the feathers of the "authorities"! Ed was wondering whether "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" would play well today. I happen to think that the messages of the Puritans would stir the hearts and minds of many people as the Holy Spirit operated through that means to bring them to Christ. It would cause countless controversies, to be sure, but God would certainly do His work through those messages. I have been listening to a tape series on the history of the Reformation, and I am truly astounded at how such a seemingly simple thing as a renewed interest in the words of the Bible sparked such a dramatic change in Western history. I know that you know from personal experience, Hank, what it is like to go to church week after week and never hear the gospel of Christ preached. These often unsuspecting folks sitting under the Reformers were given heavy doses of pure, unadulterated Scriptural exposition, and it transformed entire societies. THAT is the power of God when His Word is publicly proclaimed by His people who know it! Sadly, however, most of American society does not have the opportunity to respond to an Edwards-esque sermon, because there are so few places today in which it can be heard. What has resulted is a lukewarm, fuzzy-headed church which is all-too-susceptible to the spirit of this world and its lusts. --Joe! |