Life Doesn't End With 50!

My goal is to have one bible study a week.  This is my first.

Satan would like for us to not fear God.  I see in our churches today a lack of respect and fear for the God who created us.  He exists.  Just as Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, he tempts us still by making us believe God isn't a force to be reckened with.  Satan lessens the power of the Almighty.  Many churches preach the Love of God, but very few actually preach to fear God.  Jesus said himself, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." in Mathew 10:28.  Doesn't this mean we should fear God over man, over Satan?  

I highly recommend reading Mathew 10 in your Bible and reflect on a few things about sin.  

Think of this... when approaching a red light you stop.  Do you stop out of fear or your love for the police?  You stop because you want to do the right thing, or more over because it's a law and it should not be broken, you're AFRAID, fearful, respectful or because you fear the police or repercussions.

Satan doesn't want us fearing God, because in fearing God we follow his law, or commands.  And by following God's law and commands, we remove the stronghold Satan has on us.

Sin is a stronghold.  Sin is what keeps us bound to ourselves, to the world.  God hates sin... and sin is what separates us from God.  YES, Jesus, God's one and only Son came and endured torment, ridicule, torture and died to release us from our sin.  Get this... HUGE statement here; God's ONE AND ONLY SON (John 1:14-18 ).  This statement signifies the IMPORTANCE of the sacrifice.  I couldn't fathom giving my children up, my only son up so that other's may be free.  The importance and significance of this statement shows the significance and importance of HIS (God's) sacrifice.  Don't you get it?  He didn't give us Jesus, a gift of LOVE, HOPE and LIFE so we could squander it away.  JESUS didn't perform miraculous miracles, heal the sick, blind, and restore people simply so we would believe.  Jesus came as the LIGHT of the world to show us the way... in all things. (John 8:11-12, Mathew 5:14)

I read Hebrews 10:26-27, I firmly believe... eventhough Christian scholars may say otherwise.  We like to believe once saved always saved... but I believe just because we know Christ exists doesn't mean we will receive salvation.  Christ came for all who should believe in him.  Our sins will keep us away from him.  He didn't come just so we could be forgiven, he came so we could become sinless... SINLESS... NO more sin.  SIN IS OUR STRONGHOLD, SIN KEEPS US FROM GOD.  And Satan would like nothing more than for us to believe we can continually, willfully, blatantly continue to sin and have a relationship with the God the Father, Christ the Son.  

Strongholds are something we fight against... every day, every second of each day, every breath.  Sin we fight.  Although we stumble, fall and trip over our sin... we keep our eyes on the prize and we FIGHT consistently, constantly, and willfully against it!  1 Corinthians 9:23-25; Phillipians 3:14

Believing in Christ is more than knowing He exists.  Satan knows Christ exists and throws stumbling blocks in our paths daily to keep us from Him. Fearing God keeps us accountable... respectful... in check.  God loves us as any parent loves their child.  I want my children to be afraid of being disciplined, because the 'fear' of being disciplined is what keeps them in check, just as fear of God's wrath keeps us in check.

The gift of Christ was to free us from our sin... and so we may become sinless as we grow in our relationship with Him.  Anything we put before God/Christ is an idol (sin).  If you love your sin more than you love Christ... are you saved?  Romans 6:6.  Do not be a slave to your sin, but be free from it.  

John 8:11 "... Now go, and sin no more." 

Ref:  http://www.christiantribune.com/Documents/Bible_Studies/Sin_what_is_it_part_1_2.htm