“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”
Isaiah 29:13
The condition of God’s people Israel had become a farce, lukewarm, lip service only to the mighty God (Ez. 33:31), which had delivered them out of Egypt and the hand of their many enemies. Pretty much the same as today’s lukewarm, Laodicean church age we live in today. (Rev. 3:14-22)
People do not even attend church today as in years past. There is no true fear of God before their eyes. (Rom. 3:18) Some that do attend church today go when they feel like it, or go for a self-serving purpose, or just for show. Some go to a church that is not Bible (KJVB) believing or doctrinally correct. This writer believes you can put churches into either of two groups: (1) The way of salvation is taught by God’s Grace Alone or (2) The way of salvation is by Man’s Works (Communion, Baptisms, Discipling, A Follower, Church work, Money, etc.) Salvation is a free gift (Eph. 2:8-9), by His grace through faith in His Son. Christ Jesus paid it all for us! Amen! Christ said, (“…It Is Finished…”) on Calvary. (Thank you, Dear Lord) (Rom. 3:23-26 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”) (Also see: Acts 20:21)
It begins with a true fear of the Lord in the heart. (“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Prov. 9:10) Realizing you are hell bound, (“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt. 10:28,) and you are in trouble with the mighty God. You must repent (change of mind), (“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Acts 17:30); believe on Christ Jesus alone (“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47); calling upon the Lord to cleanse and save you. (“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13) Be saved today before eternity comes for thee.
Yet today there are very few which will truly fear God and heed. The fear of God taught today is according to whatever man says it is, such as: It is just a reverential and respectful trust of the Lord. Balderdash. Or, the fear of the Lord is just that He allows wrong doing and sin to go on and take its course (plays patty cake with, easy going) (not someone that is over you with His smiting hand). Wicked! (“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” Prov. 16:6) True fear of the LORD is life changing! (“So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.” Ps. 58:11)