Hi Sean,

Thanks for your response and input in this.

A certain kind of fear is not a bad thing, but rather the beginning of wisdom and spiritual growth. Depending on the kind of "fear" we are talking about:











Fear can be stated in different ways. One meaning could describe a form of cowardice or the wrong kind of fear, the other a necessary fear (awe/reverence).

Rather a fear of offending Him, because of His greatness, His Holiness and all that He has done for us is in fact the beginning of wisdom and further contemplation on perfecting our life and our walk with Him towards eternity. Since nothing defiled can enter Heaven! A fear of losing our soul to Hell and being eternally separated from Him is not bad, or wrong or foolish, but wise. Thankfully He took our place of punishment on the Cross that we would have means to reconcile. The message through the bible is repeated call for repentence of sin and to change our lives.

It is right of course to preach love and forgivness, but unfortunately the other side (God's justice) is often missed out - particularly in our times where it is not wanted, not popular (or politically correct). Yet, sadly it is needed more than ever before due to the increase in sin, indifference to God and lack of respect for His commandments and warnings on sin.

We do this often in 'fear' (the wrong kind) for offending people. Yet had we the right kind of fear, we would fear committing sin and offending our Lord moreso and would therefore preach some of the tougher parts of the gospel with courage in the Holy Spirit.

Christ spelt it out as it was but never without the other hand reaching out to forgive and lift us up out of our bondage in sin. Sincerely, sin is not liberation/freedom, but rather a form of slavery and Christ came to set us free.

It is not judgemental or mean to remind oneanother of our daily need to improve our spiritual walk, as we are all on a journey towards eternity and repentence and a sincere sorrow for sin and sincere means to amend and avoid repeating it in future, is all God asks of us. Since we are sinners and are prone to fall, His hand is there always to help pull us back out.

Let us not be luke warm in our faith, and fence sitters. How can we possibly proclaim to be Christian and expect others to take us seriously, when our example maybe little better than practical atheism? i.e. lip service, but living and remaining in sin. Being a living example becomes I think the greater cause for conversions of others, than simply by preaching. Since we become a vessel that Christ is able to work through! The Holy Spirit resides in truth. No human being, on their own, can do anything. But with God? Anything is possible. All of us are weak and suffer with tendencies to fall into sin and some of us have certain areas that we are more prone to falling in than others. Let us not lose focus on Christ and give up! But let us also not play games with His mercy!

Consider the following also:

Though it is not by OUR works that we are saved, but through Christ's sacrifice on the cross and our faith and acceptance of that sacrifice,the EVIDENCE of our conversion and love of God should be revealed in our actions. We become in a sense a new person in Christ. Serving others, as Christ told us to do. Part of this is the repentence and avoidance of sinful practises, which is evidence of our obedience and love of God, not wishing to offend Him, or lose our soul. Should we fall, we have the means to get back up thanks to Christ's sacrifice that covers all of time. When one truly repents and sincerely seeks to change their life, one cannot help but find themselves drawn to do good and love others. Christ becomes increasingly present inside a person and they become increasingly aware of his presence. Sin tends to darken and blind a person.





















Being human and being sinners, naturally we do not like to be told, much-less reminded by our wretchedness and sin, but without such reminders, our awareness is easily dulled by the temptations and delights of temporary worldliness, which in the end, will never bring us eternal happiness.

It was said:







The bible is not a smorgus board, to where we can decide to simply pick and choose what delights us and pretend the harsh realities and responsibilities do not exist or aren't really the word of God. As much as I wish certain things were also not a reality, my limited wishes won't hold much impact on the day of my personal judgement, let alone THE day of Judgement for all mankind.

All people, if they are serious about God and eternal life and take Him at his word? Must get serious about sin also. Since God takes sin so seriously, He gave Himself as a sacrifice in the most horrific suffering possible. All so we might turn from our sin and embrace His forgiveness and receive eternal life. Wow, what a payment! We will never be able to thank Him enough, or those that continued to warn us on our journey through life and many temptations

Nobody said our walk would be easy, since the road is narrow and few who are who follow it. Strewn with crosses, thorns and temptations often, but we only have to look at the Cross to understand and to have hope of the ressurrection! Focus on Christ and let Him be our example and our lead.