“We are NOT citizens of this world. We belong to another kingdom, and we are expected to live our lives in accordance to the dictates of THAT Kingdom. The customs and dictates of the country we are now residing in do not have sovereignty over us. We are of the Kingdom of God, and our lives here should reflect that association.”

This is an excerpt from today’s podcast based on 1 Peter 1:17:

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 

Living in reverential fear as a Christ-follower is an important topic, seldom discussed.

Here is the video link:

1 Peter 1:17 Living in reverential fear

The audio link for Spotify is to the right.

Below is the transcription from today’s podcast:

1:17 Live in Reverent Fear

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 

First – we are NOT citizens of this world. We belong to another kingdom, and we are expected to live our lives in accordance to the dictates of THAT Kingdom. The customs and dictates of the country we are now residing in do not have sovereignty over us. We are of the Kingdom of God, and our lives here should reflect that association.

ἀπροσωπολήμπτως aprosōpolēmptōs, adv. [1] [√ 1.1 + 4725 + 3284]. impartially, without prejudice:– impartially (1)

Here is where reverential fear comes in to this  – simply because some people call themselves Christians does not mean that all will be well for them in the Judgment. Sinners “will not stand in the judgment” (Ps 1:5-6); at the Last Judgment the unregenerate will be doomed. 

Please hear this…

Those who have been saved by grace WILL walk in good works as the evidence of grace and will have their lives evaluated by God and will receive according to what they have done.

Ephesians 2:10

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Anything involved with loving God and loving our neighbors. Not a one-time act or good deed, but a lifestyle of love.

Romans 14:10b-12

For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b]

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

“every knee…every tongue” means EVERYBODY – saved and unsaved. Everybody – saved, unsaved – gets equal treatment. Everybody will give an account for the lives they lived.

2 Corinthians 5:10

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The result of this judgement will ultimately be based on whether you are are justified or not. Justified persons cannot be condemned – only the Lord who knows the hearts knows who the justified are. All are judged – not all are condemned.

Romans 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Since judgment is certain, Christians must live in reverential awe/fear of God—yet not in terror, for peace is one of their prerogatives (1Pe 1:2). The Christian life is a temporary stay on this earth (cf. comment on 1:1). So the brief time granted us should be used carefully. Remember WHOSE we are, WHO we represent. Remember –

“This world is not my home, I’m just passing through…”

If what I have just shared incited some trepidation, some fear… good. I think it is healthy to do a regular gut-check as to who we belong to. At the beginning of each podcast I recite the “Apostle’s Creed”. As I read it, I constantly ask myself – “Do I REALLY believe He is my Lord, born of a Virgin, that He died and rose on the third day? Do I REALLY believe one day I will be judged? Do I REALLY believe I am forgiven and will enter into life everlasting with Him?” 

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

 

What are YOUR answers to those questions? Sometimes the fog of this world’s culture obscures these questions. Don’t be afraid to do a self-check. If there is ANY uncertainty in your heart concerning your citizenship in Heaven, stop what you are doing, and tell God about it. Talk to Him like you would talk to anyone else. Tell Him you want to spend eternity with Him. Ask Him for forgiveness and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Go to the Gospel of John in the New Testament and start your reading there. God will not turn away anyone who seeks Him.

In His Grip,