Why is the Word of God Changing? The Conclusion

Earl Gillespie

Why is the Word of God Changing?

It is because we don't fear God.

Closing out this week's study, we have tried to speak concerning the ever changing Word of God.   Christianity has become embroiled in the establishment of a platform of political correctness without regard to what the Bible says.  Political correctness trumps the Bible in all aspects of modern day lifestyles.   Many times the Word of God is simply reinterpreted to say what is more pleasing to the ear.   The question we posed is, "Why is the Word of God constantly changing?"  The only real answer is, there is no fear of God anymore.  God had the same problem with the children of Israel,   It is acceptable to speak of God’s Love but forbidden to speak of what God hates.  Why must our concept of a Godly message must be God love you rather than God Hate you?  Why we cannot look a Sinner in the eyes and flatly state, “Sister or Brother, God hates you.”  If you are a sinner then you do not fear God.  Why must we redefine everything until it fits our mold?  Must we analyze such words as Truth, Justice, Love, Hate, and Fear?  Let the truth speak for itself.  Justice is powerful it can stand-alone, why are we afraid of Justice?  Love is the emotion of the heart, an attribute of the soul, Hate is an opposite that co-exist with the other.  One would not or could not exist without the other.  Fear and peace, you cannot accept one without accepting the other.  The intensity of fear, defined the intensity of  peace.  

If this case were presented in a court of law, the verdict would be, "The message is changed by those who do not fear God.  They do not fear God because they believe in God."  

David, a man who feared God, (2 Samuel 23:3/1 Kings 15:5), expressed this godly hate very clearly in Psalm 139.  “Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hates you?”  “And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?”  "I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.”  (Psalm 139:21-22; see also Psalm 26:5; 31:6; 119:113) they are enemies indeed.  A perfect hate seems to me would be pure hate intact.  Pure hate would be hate without a blunted stinger.  Those who do not fear God hate those who do, but their hatred is ungodly and evil.  They hate God (Romans 1:28, 30), and they hate His people.  “As it is written, an unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.”  (Proverbs 29:27)  The hatred is mutual, but one is justified.  The other is not.

True fear shows confidence in God’s power and ability.  In the fear of the Lord, there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.  (Proverbs 14:26; see also Psalm 112:7-8)  The true fear of God does not produce cowardice, but rather boldness, as Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”  Cowards go to hell (Revelation 21:8), but the righteous, those who fear God, are in no way cowards, but are rather bold as a Lion.  God-fearing people are able to live with confidence even in the face of horrifying circumstances.  As the fear of the Lord instructs,

My son let them not depart from your eyes, keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck.  Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble.  When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.  Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.”  (Proverbs 3:21-26)

Those who fear God believe in His mercy (Psalm 103:11-18).  They believe in His forgiveness (John 3:16), and they know they have eternal life (1^st. John 5:13).  They have boldness concerning "the day of judgment," because they do not fear condemnation (Romans 8:1).  They do not fear torment.  They look forward to their reward (Revelation 22:12-14), because they know God is; and will reward those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6; 9:27-28).  The fear cast out in 1^st. John 4:17-18 is the fear that involves torment (verse 18).  It is the fear of condemnation, and not the fear of God.  If this were the fear of God then wisdom and knowledge would not exist.  (Job 28:28)!  No, it is actually the fear of God that casts out other fears, like the fear of man (Isaiah 8:11-13; Psalm 27:1; Proverbs 29:25), cowardice (2^nd.  Timothy 1:7), and the fear of death (Romans 8:15; Hebrews 2:14-15), which includes the fear of condemnation (the second death, Revelation 21:8).

Those who are afraid of God fear the one who "after He has killed, has the power to cast into hell" (Luke 12:4-5).  Therefore, they conduct their time on this earth in fear (Romans 11:20-22; 1^st.Peter 1:17), being greatly motivated by this terror (2^nd.Corinthians 5:11), to set their hope completely on the grace of God (1^st. Peter 1:13).  They are diligent to enter his rest (Hebrews 4:11), because they know there is no other way to escape the wrath of the Almighty (John 3:36), except to fear Him and trust in His salvation (Psalm 119:166).  For this is man's all, as it is written, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”  (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Job, a man who was terrified of God (Job 23:13-16), had the confidence that comes with the fear of God.  He spoke of it in Job 19:25-27.  For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.  Job longed for the day he would see God.  He had no shame concerning that day, but rather great confidence, like David who wrote in Psalm 61, “I will abide in your tabernacle forever.”  (Psalm 61:4)  This is the confidence of all who fear Him (Psalm 65:5).  Since they fear Him (Luke 12:4-5), they need not fear (Luke 12:4-7; see also Exodus 20:18-20; 1^st. Samuel 12:20-25; Matthew 17:5-7), as Proverbs 1:33 says, “Whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Content is the confidence that comes with the true fear of God, there is great satisfaction as well.  “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil.”  (Proverbs 19:23)  Many years ago, King David feared God and he sang The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  (Psalm 23:1)  David knew he would not lack.  He knew he would abide in satisfaction, because he knew the Lord would never forsake Him (Hebrews 13:5).  Even though "the eyes of man are never satisfied" (Proverbs 27:20), those who fear the Lord find contentment in what little or much they have (Ephesians 5:5; Hebrews 13:5).  They are satisfied with His goodness (Psalm 36:7-8; 37:19; 63:5; Proverbs 14:14), because they love the Lord and hate their possessions (Luke 14:33; 16:13).  Why do they teach me not to be content?  Why do they teach me to ask God for earthly possession?  Why must I beg God for things that have no spiritual value?  The same one who took fear out of the home is the one who took the fear out of God. 

Those who fear God are wise.  Since the fear of God is wisdom (Job 28:28), it is no wonder that those who fear God are taught by God, and therefore have the wisdom of God.  Psalm 25 says, “Who is the man that fears the Lord.”  Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.  (Psalm 25:12)  Those who fear God have an anointing from the Lord (1^st. John 2:27) and receive special instruction from Him.  As it is written “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.”  (Psalm 25:12-14)

In the context of the law of the Lord, the testimony of the Lord, the statutes of the Lord, the commandment of the Lord, and the judgments of the Lord, Psalm 19:9 has, the fear of the Lord.  All of these are synonyms for the word of God (Psalm 119), including "the fear of the Lord" (Psalm 19:9).  The fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10); it is wisdom (Job 28:28).  Christ is wisdom (1^st. Corinthians 1:24, 30), and Christ is the word of God (John 1:1, 14; Revelation 19:13).  Therefore, if wisdom is Christ and the word of God, so the fear of the Lord is wisdom and the word of God.  Proverbs 15:33 says, "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom.”  That well describes the word of God as well, as Paul wrote; “All Scriptures are given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”  (2^nd.Timothy 3:16)  In addition, Proverbs 13:13 say, “He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.”  Fearing the commandment and fearing God are the same.

If the fear of the Lord is indeed Scripture, the Word of God, the wisdom of God, and Christ, then the fear of the Lord is God Himself (John 1:1).  Proverbs 2:5 well illustrates this.  Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.  Understanding the fear of the Lord is finding the knowledge of God.  In other words, the fear of the Lord is God.

Based upon my dissertation I rest my case, a God of this magnitude I would be a fool not to fear him.