Grace or Law, Freedom or Slavery

by Eldon DeBoer

What follows are additional explanations related to what is stated at the top of the page of this blog.

The sad commentary on the lives of many believers in Christ Jesus is that while they once understood that they have been delivered from their sins and eternal death by God's grace in Christ Jesus, they now are living their life under the Law. Sadly, many believers have become confused about God's grace plan for their life much like the Corinthians to whom Paul wrote long ago. The result is that they do not have the joy of true freedom in Christ but, sadly, they are living a life of slavery to rules and regulations that they think they have to obey in order to know that they are secure in their eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Just reading through 2 Corinthians 2:14 – 6:2 should cause us to draw these conclusions:

> The Law of Moses can only bring death.
> The Spirit of God is the One who gives life.
> In Christ there is freedom to be transformed into His likeness by His love and grace.

Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 3:6:

"[God] has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant (the contract agreement God signed with the blood of His Son) --not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

What is Paul’s main point? The Law of Moses had its God-given purpose. It brought death and illustrated the reasons for death. It was a message of condemnation (3:9). We have disobeyed God’s Word. We have sinned against God and therefore we die. Left to ourselves we will live in torment and be forever separated from God.

What is it that kills? What is it that can only produce death? It is God's Law that "was engraved in letters on stone" (3:7). Only the Spirit of God is able to make us alive in Christ through faith in Him (2 Corinthians 4:13-16; cf. 3:16). Only through faith in Christ is the veil of the Law taken away with its fading glory (3:14).

At the very moment that we believed in Jesus Christ, we died with Him when God identified us with Him in His death (5:15; cp. Ephesians 1:13-14). God has reconciled us to Himself by means of Christ’s work in our place (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Christ Jesus took our sin upon Himself so that we might receive God’s righteousness (5:21). Paul clearly taught that this was appropriated to us not by any works or obedience to God's Law (His rules) but by believing in Jesus Christ.

Consequently whenever any human effort or obedience is presented as a requirement to remain right with God and as a requirement for deliverance from sin or maintaining one’s eternal relationship with Christ Jesus, only confusion can result. There is the real danger of the veil remaining over the hearts of believers who once understood the grace message of the gospel but have become confused. Any true transformation into the likeness of Christ Jesus is impossible as long as the believer views his obedience as necessary in order to keep what God says that he already possesses--namely eternal life.

But don't take my word for it. Carefully study and think through what Paul is teaching, beginning in 2 Corinthians 3. You will probably find that this is not easy reading material. You are in good company. The Apostle Peter admitted that Paul's writings were "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:15-16) But keep working at it. The reward is fantastic. You might realize once again the freedom found in God's grace message for your life.

The mirror of God’s grace in Christ Jesus is blurred by setting forth any requirement of obedience to the Law or God's rules for maintaining one's eternal relationship with Christ Jesus. The message of grace in Christ is distorted. And consequently believers return to slavery to the Law.

The only way the Spirit of the Lord ministers and gives life is by turning to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, believing that He and He alone saves and guarantees everlasting life. He can give us life with God forever because of who He is and what He has done for us on the cross of Calvary. Likewise, the Spirit of the Lord is the One who brings about our transformation into the likeness of Christ by His grace as we keep fixing our eyes on Christ Jesus in faith, keeping in mind His love for us as we continue to trust Him for His strength to apply His Word.

Is obedience and pleasing the Lord Jesus important? Of course!!! But we experience the freedom of His grace only when we obey Him in gratitude for His love and for the many gifts He has given, not because we fear that if we do not keep obeying Him He will take away what He in fact has freely given us through faith in Him.

Jesus Christ made it possible for us to enter heaven by His suffering and death in our place. By believing in Him we receive everlasting life with Him. The wondrous love that Christ Jesus has for us includes our position in Him, giving us resurrection bodies and rewarding us for faithful service. Paul brought this into view in 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:13. Then he explained (the explanatory gar in the Greek text introduces 5:14) to the Corinthians that he and Timothy did what they did because they understood the significance of Jesus Christ's love for them:

2 Corinthians 5:14. For the love of Christ constrains (or motivates) us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15. and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

The love that Jesus Christ so clearly demonstrated to us by His suffering and death on the cross provides real substance for the meaning and application of grace in our life. In verse 14 Paul uses the verb sunecho (pres.act.ind.). It is translated “constrains” or “controls” in other English versions. How Paul uses this verb elsewhere helps us understand its meaning. When we comprehend the love Christ has for us, it "hems" us in (Luke 19:43), it "presses" us to act (Philippians 1:23). The grace demonstrated by the love of Jesus Christ has everything do with being properly motivated to please the Lord when we obey His commands. This is how the grace of God revealed by the love of Christ for us instructs and trains us (cf. Titus 2:11-14).

The only way the Spirit brings about transformation is by God’s grace in Christ Jesus. It is all His work in us and through us. When this is not the emphasis, when this is not understood and applied, there is a real danger that believers have received the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

We should not put up with a message that is a message of death that kills. Study Paul's concern for the believers in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. The false teaching that declares that God's rules must be kept in order to retain one's eternal relationship with Christ is in opposition to the message of grace. This false teaching will keep people in slavery to those rules. How can anyone rejoice in a message of condemnation and death? Yet, many believers today continue to "put up with it easily enough" (2 Corinthians 11:4 in the NIV), as is evident by what is commonly taught and practiced by many.

We are delivered from sin and death and receive eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ. And we are transformed into His likeness by His Spirit as we keep fixing our eyes on Him and His Word with faith in Him to enable us to obey.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:1-18).

We are free to become more like Him only as we obey Him in response to His love and grace.

If you have questions about any of the above, send me an e-mail (edeboer@tnics.com) and I'll be please to do my best to respond.

Like Paul did for the leaders of Ephesus, I entrust you to God "and the message of His grace which is able to build you up . . ." (Acts 20:32). Only this wonderful message of grace is able to build you up in your relationship with God.

Grace for Your Worries

The Grace of the Lord Jesus is sufficient for your worries. When life seems overwhelming, look to Jesus and His Word. He will carry you as you keep on trusting in Him.

Philippians 4:6-9 is a passage that will help you understand the plan of God in providing the grace for your worries.

Three Steps to Be Free from Worry
[for a while at least]

by Eldon DeBoer

We all struggle with it from time to time. Some of us struggle with it a lot. This thing called worry. Worry involves continuing to have anxious thoughts about what is happening to us. The result is a detrimental negative mental and emotional condition. Perpetual problems with worry in the life of a believer in Christ comes about because of a failure to apply the truth of God and His Word in a particular area of life. It is a lack of faith in the Lord and in His Word as it should be applied to a specific concern. George Mueller stated, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” Philippians 4:6-7 and Romans 14:23, “Whatever is not of faith is sin,” support Mueller’s conclusion.

Worry causes our life to be less productive than God would have it be as we become consumed with the trouble we are facing. When this happens, we have stopped trusting in Lord Jesus and His Word.

This teaching is for believers in Christ Jesus who have placed faith in Him as their personal Savior. When you believe in Jesus Christ He will give you His Spirit so that you may stop worrying by His grace. You should know that He gives you much more in addition to freedom from worry. He gives you everlasting life with Himself forever because He suffered and died in your place on Calvary’s cross, bearing your sin in His body (John 6:47; chapters 19 – 20). He will make you free of worry forever with no lapses of trust in Him. Yes, you will have no more problems with worry and be given much more when you are perfectly transformed into His likeness and see Him face to face (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 3:1-3; Revelation 21:4). You will be completely free of struggles with stress. But until we see Jesus face to face and become totally like Him, we must draw upon His grace and His Spirit, seeking to apply the steps given in Philippians 4:6 so that we will experience God’s peace promised in 4:7.

It is humbling to recognize that until we see Jesus and are transformed into His likeness we will not be completely free of worry with no lapses from it. We succumb to the weaknesses of our sinful nature. Our faith is not yet perfect. But we may be free of worry, for a while at least, as we turn our eyes upon Jesus and trust in Him again.

Let’s consider the three steps that the Lord has provided in Philippians so that you may be free from worry.

Step 1: Stop worrying because you trust in the Lord and trust in His Word.

Philippians 4:6 starts off with the command, “Be anxious for nothing,” or “Don’t worrying about anything” (NLT). In order to heed this command we must have confidence in the Lord and His Word.

Believers who “stand firm in the Lord” know what to do with their worries (cf. Philippians 4:1). You may “Stand firm in the Lord” by “pressing on” toward the goal of knowing Christ (3:10,14) with the truth fixed firmly in your thinking that He has made you are a citizen of heaven (3:20-21).

When we make knowing Christ the number one priority in life, the troubles that may cause anxiety may be viewed from His perspective from the teachings of His Word more and more.

Hudson Taylor, missionary to China and founder of what is presently known as the Overseas Missionary Fellowship, gave this excellent advice: "Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into [God’s] hand; and then, when we have given all over to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about."

Citizens of heaven who are rejoicing in the Lord and want a vital and meaningful personal relationship with Christ know what to do with their worries (Philippians 3:1; 4:4). They place everything in God’s hands, especially their worries. And they talk to the Lord about the anxiety they are facing and its causes. They apply step two.

Step 2: Pray because you know the Lord will hear and respond. You can trust the Lord Jesus.

As a believer in Jesus Christ you certainly should know that you can trust Him. Life may not be what you had expected or hoped for. But remember, Jesus loved you enough to suffer and die in your place so that you could enjoy Him and His heaven forever. So talk to the Lord about the specifics of what is going on in your life. Pray for the Lord’s insight. Ask Him, “What principles from Your Word should be applied to what I am facing?

The Lord declared through Jeremiah, “Blessed is the man who trusts (batach) in the LORD and whose trust (mibtach) is the LORD” (17:7). Then He described what this man is like:

For he will be like a tree planted by the water,

That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.

Believers who keep on trusting in the Lord have stability in life and do not become filled with anxiety when their lives go through seasons of drought. When times and relationships become troublesome, they are not overcome with worry. This is addressing what is generally true of a mature believer in Christ. However, no one has perfect faith. Therefore, there may still be occasional times of anxiety. But we should understand that when we keep on wallowing in worry we have failed to make the proper application of the truth to what is taking place. We are failing to trust in the Lord and His Word.

Keep talking to the Lord about the stress in your life. Is there anything He wants you to do in response to what He has placed in your path? In addition to talking to the Lord about it, maybe there are some specific things He wants you to do. Ask the Lord Jesus to help you evaluate your worries. It may be needful to seek the counsel of another believer in Christ who may be able to share some insights from the Word of God that apply to your circumstances.

Ask the Lord, “What is the root cause of my worries?” Think through what may be underneath the cause of your anxious thoughts and feelings. Maybe you will find that you have anxiety for no good reason.

Believers who faithfully renew their confidence in the Lord and His plan are able to apply step three by His grace.

Step 3: Pray “with thanksgiving” because you know the Lord Jesus will work out His plan for your good in your life.

Praying “with thanksgiving” is in keeping with the commands in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit."

A rejoicing and thankful heart is from the Lord and His grace as we remember the promise of Romans 8:28 for all who love God. All the circumstances of life should be viewed from God’s perspective from divine viewpoint, as much as possible. When we are confident that the Lord will somehow bring about good through the very troubles we are facing we may be thankful as we keep on talking with Him about life as it is. The importance of taking in the Word of God, pondering the truth He has given to us should be obvious. When we willfully turn away from the Lord and His Word we are quenching His Spirit’s work in us.

We talk to the Lord and are thankful because we believe in Him. He has the answers to our worries. He is providentially ordering our life. A thankful attitude in the face of very difficult times is from the Lord by His grace and the ministry of His Spirit.

We can be thankful because we know the Lord always has our growth and productivity in mind (cf. John 15:7-8). We are able to be thankful by His grace when we understand that He wants us to enjoy an intimate, even better personal relationship with Him (John 14:1, 23; Ephesians 3:16-19; Revelation 3:19-20). And most times it is only by undergoing stressful times that we get closer to Him (James 1:1-6). May we view the stress that is causing the worries with an attitude of thankfulness to the Lord.

When you apply steps 1, 2 and 3, you’ll experience God’s peace within. The promise of Philippians 4:7 is based upon applying 4:6.

God’s Promise of Peace in Philippians 4:7

God’s peace will guard your heart and mind. The Lord Jesus will give you emotional and mental stability by His grace.

God’s peace is not a result of your ability to work it out by yourself. This is what the phrase, “the peace of God which is beyond all understanding,” (nous) is about. God’s peace does not result from your mental abilities or psychological adjustments that you think you can conjure up on your own. God grants His peace by His grace to believers who want to know Christ more and more as they keep on applying Philippians 4:6.

All the praise should be offered up to the Lord Jesus for enabling you to stop worrying and giving you peace. When you turn your thoughts to Him and His Word, you should experience His peace within. This is the emphasis of what follows in

Philippians 4:8-9:

"Moreover, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good reputation with God, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

When you apply the truth that the Apostle Paul taught by the Spirit, focusing on the Lord and His Word, “the God of peace will be with you.” God will give you a strong and healthy sense of well-being because you know Him and His plan for your life.

Five “don’ts” to avoid concerning your worries:

1. Don’t sweep your worries under a rug by attempting to ignore them.

Meet your worries head-on, trusting the Lord to give you the grace to face them by the application of His Word.

At this point, maybe you need something on the lighter side. For several years a woman had been having trouble getting to sleep at night because she feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went downstairs to investigate. When he got there, he did find a burglar. “Good evening,” said the man of the house. “I am pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you" (William Marshall, Eternity Shut in a Span).

2. Don’t succumb to escape mechanisms.

Turning to alcohol or drugs is often caused by not dealing with anxieties from the Lord’s view that you may be experiencing. However, if your anxious thoughts do not diminish while you are seeking the Lord’s insight, it may be necessary to consult with someone who may be able to determine whether or not there is a physical problem causing the unusual level of anxiety.

3. Don’t worry about worrying. Don’t become anxious about your anxieties.
When you find yourself worrying again, thank the Lord that He has the grace solution to all your anxieties in your personal relationship with Him in understanding His Word and plan for your life.

But you may be wondering, “What do I do when I seem to “blind-sided” by anxious thoughts that tie me up in knots within?” This is what “for a while at least” in the brackets under the title of this message are about. Yes, there are three steps to a worry free life in Philippians 4:6-7. But thinking that we can be worry free without any lapses this side of heaven is not being realistic. Everybody worries from time to time because no one has a perfect or complete faith. We have not yet been completely glorified with perfect natures. When the Holy Spirit brings to your attention that you are not applying Philippians 4:6-7 in your life confess it as sin, receive the Lord’s forgiveness, get your eyes back on Him and meditate on His Word (1 John 1:9 – 2:2; Hebrews 12:1-3). When the mental and emotional state of worry sweeps over you seemingly without notice and you find yourself fretting within, stop and reflect upon and ponder what you know to be true of Jesus Christ, what He has done for you and the wonderful relationship you may have with Him that He has made possible because He loved you so much and suffered for you.

4. Don’t worry about what may never happen.

A woman who had lived long enough to have learned some important truths about life remarked, “I’ve had a lot of trouble—most of which never happened!” She had worried about many things that had never occurred, and had come to see the total futility of her anxieties. Maybe just waiting and allowing some time to pass will alleviate the cause of your concerns.

J. Arthur Rank, an English executive, decided to do all his worrying on one day each week. He chose Wednesdays. When anything happened that gave him anxiety and annoyed his ulcer, he would write it down and put it in his worry box and forget about it until next Wednesday. The interesting thing was that on the following Wednesday when he opened his worry box, he found that most of the things that had disturbed him the past six days were already settled. It would have been useless to have worried about them.

5. Don’t confuse worry with concern.

We should be concerned about many things. But be alert for when legitimate concerns cause you to begin to fret within.

Try to imagine the task the Lord called His prophet Jeremiah to carry out. Certainly he had heartfelt concerns about what the Lord had called him to do and what he would witness. He had to tell the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem that the Lord God was going to bring judgment upon them. Because of the ongoing sinfulness of the Judeans, they would experience tremendous suffering at the hands of the Babylonians who the Lord had raised up. Jeremiah’s concern for the people he loved caused him to have deep levels of anxiety from time to time. This is especially evident by what he wrote in Lamentations. Jeremiah kept renewing his confidence in the Lord even though life was hard and certainly not what he would have chosen for himself.

May we be like Jeremiah. May we renew our trust in the Lord in the face of our concerns when we find that we have become anxious once again. How thankful we should be that the Lord Jesus will help us recover from our worries by His grace as we apply the principles from His Word.

The story has been told of a 5-year old boy named Johnny who was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn’t want to go in alone. He said, “It’s dark in there and I’m afraid.” She asked again, but the boy continued to resist because of his fear of what might be lurking in the dark. Finally Johnny’s mother said, “It’s OK—Jesus will be in there with you.” Johnny walked hesitantly to the door of the dark pantry and slowly opened it. He peered into the darkness of the pantry, but his fear began to overcome him and he started to close the door. But suddenly an idea came to him. He said, “Jesus, if you’re in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?”

We chuckle at Johnny and his way of dealing with his fear of entering the dark. But we might be very much like that five year old boy when it comes to fear of other things in our life. We may wish that Jesus would suddenly appear from the darkness and put an end to what we fear. We should know that in a real sense Jesus is available to us and wants to appear from the darkness to shine the light of His Word upon the solution to our fears. The Lord certainly does not want us to be plagued by fears that disable us.

Nearly everyone (if not everyone) has experienced disabling fears to some degree or another. Disabling fears are those fears that keep us from doing what we would really like to do. For believers in Christ Jesus who want to please and honor Him, the most frustrating of all disabling fears are those fears that keep them from doing what they know Jesus wants them to do.

The Lord wants to give you the grace by His Spirit to overcome any disabling fears with which you may struggle.

Dealing with Disabling Fears God’s Way

There are a lot of ways people have overcome their fears through counsel and psychological maneuverings. But, as the title above indicates, what we are concerned about in this study is dealing with disabling fears God’s way. What are God’s solutions to our disabling fears?

Hebrews 2:14-15

Christ Jesus has Provided Freedom from the Fear of Death

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, [Jesus] Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

One of the greatest fears is the fear of death. God’s solution to this fear is found in Jesus Christ.

Christ Jesus came to set us free from the fear of death and bondage to it by His death in our place and His resurrection which proved His teachings to be true.

Romans 8:1-2, 15

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me/you free from the law of sin and death.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear [of sin and death], but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"

Believers who appreciate their position in Christ Jesus should not be slaves to fear of sin and death (cp. Isaiah 43:1).

2 Timothy 1:7 Disabling Fears Are Not from God

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

In the passages from Hebrews and Romans cited above, the Greek word translated “fear” is phobos, from which we have the English word phobia. But in 2 Timothy 1:7 a different word is used (deilia) that is translated “fear” in the King James versions. It is sometimes rendered “timidity” in this verse in other translations (NIV, NASB). But the translation “fear” is appropriate for in Matthew 8:26, a closely related word (deilos) is used by the Lord Jesus when the disciples were facing a storm on the sea of Galilee.
Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!'' But He said to them, "Why are you fearful (deilos), O you of little faith?'' Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.

The context of deilos in this passage indicates that “fear” is certainly an appropriate translation.

It is very possible that Timothy was overly concerned about what people thought of him. His fears may have been disabling him and keeping him from carrying out the ministry he had been gifted to carry out. We should not live in fear of others and what they might think of us or do to us (cf. Hebrews 13:5-6). We should not allow such fears to keep us from ministering to others. We have God’s power available to us through the work of His Spirit who indwells us and wants to fill us and influence our behavior. As we shall see from the next passage that we will consider, when God’s love has been brought to maturity in us fear is cast out and as a result we certainly have a “sound mind.”

Dwight Edwards points out how the Apostle Paul addressed Timothy regarding fear,

. . . it is crucial to note how Paul tells Timothy to deal with his natural fearfulness. He doesn't tell him to "guts it up" or "to stop being afraid." Rather he reminds Timothy that God has given him a resource which will supernaturally overcome these fears. As he plugs into the resurrections power which indwells his body, then he can become a God-intoxicated (Eph. 5:18) individual through whom spiritual life can be diffused to those around him (http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=2111).

Philippians 1:12-14

Encouragement from Observing Others Helps Us Overcome Disabling Fears

The Apostle Paul was “in chains.” He indicates that his response to his circumstances encouraged other believers to overcome their fear. They were now sharing their faith more aggressively because of his example and his encouragement.
When other believers observe that we have overcome our fear of others it may encourage them to be more fearless and bold in communicating the truth of Christ Jesus.

1 John 4:18 The Mature Love of God Casts Out Fear

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

“Perfect” may be translated complete or mature. When love that is from God has reached a level of completion or maturity, it casts out fear. How does God’s love reach a level of maturity in us so that it casts out fear? By being occupied with the love God has shown us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. (Study and ponder 1 John 3:16-18 and 4:7-17 to appreciate the context leading up to 4:18.)
When our greatest concern is there you are as we look to meet the needs of others (a main result of being occupied with Jesus Christ), and not here I am (no longer being occupied with self or being occupied with self less and less), fears are “cast out” of our life because God has given us His mature love by His Word and His Spirit.

A true but tragic story:
A woman was once walking along a riverbank with her child. Suddenly the child slipped into the river. The mother screamed in terror. She couldn’t swim, and besides, she was in the latter stages of pregnancy. Finally, somebody heard her screaming and rushed down to the riverbank. The utter tragedy was, when they stepped into those murky waters to retrieve that now dead child, they found that the water was only waist deep! That mother could have easily saved her child but didn’t because of a lack of knowledge. (Hell’s Best Kept Secret, by Ray Comfort (Bellflower, CA: Ray Comfort, 1989), pp. 160-161).

Occupation with Christ Jesus and His love and grace demonstrated by His person and work provides the knowledge base required so that the Spirit of God can bring you to the place where your fears do not disable you as they once did.

When an individual loves God and loves his neighbor like he loves himself with faith in the Lord and His Word, fears are cast out of his life. Fear is not a factor with an outward look that examines and seeks to meet the needs of others. This is the result when the expression of love that is from God is exercised.

A Humbling Observation: Even though they knew better, at times the apostles still struggled with fear.

> Peter’s fear of the Jews disabled him from doing what he knew was right. Galatians 2:12

> Paul’s request for boldness implies his concern about disabling fears. Ephesians 6:19-20

It should be humbling for us to realize that even those who had seen the resurrected Lord Jesus still struggled with fear from time to time on certain occasions and in certain circumstances. This should increase our awareness of our need for the ongoing work of the grace of God in order to keep on dealing with our disabling fears.

Dealing with Fear of the Future God’s Way

How can we deal with fear of what the future might hold for us or for our children?

Fears the come from . . .

. . . the threat of a total economic collapse. Just watch the news for about 5 minutes.
. . . the threat of nuclear attacks.

. . . the threat of tribulation before the “great tribulation.” Consider Jesus’ teachings from Matthew 24:

"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)

When is the “then” that Jesus was talking about in this verse? This is explained in Matthew 24:14-15 where Jesus refers to the prophecy of Daniel about the seven year great tribulation and the “abomination of desolation” at the mid-way point of those seven years (Daniel 9:27). The “abomination of desolation” takes place when the antichrist will make a sacrifice in the holy of holies in the temple in Jerusalem (cf. Revelation ). This seven year tribulation is still future as indicated by Jesus statement that the destruction and devastation that comes with it will be like the world has never seen before or will see in the future. It will be worse than anything man has ever experienced by way of war and catastrophe or ever shall experience. This tribulation will begin after the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10) when the antichrist signs a peace treaty with the nation of Israel (Daniel 9:27).

But tribulations may come; devastating experiences may come into our life before the great tribulation and before our rapture when we go to be with Jesus. God forbid, but there may be another “great depression.”

Do you fear the future? Do you fear for yourself or for your children to the extent that your fears consume you? Here are three basic principles that should calm your fears about what the future may bring.

1. Always remember that the Lord Jesus will be with you.
Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5-8; cp. Isaiah 41:10; 43:5

The Lord said in Isaiah 41:10:
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

2. You need not be enslaved to the fear of what the future may bring. Romans 8:15-25

Paul addresses attention to how the creation continues to groan in this passage in Romans 8. Will this groaning ever come to an end? Yes! The creation will stop reeling and groaning from the effects of the curse upon it at the second coming of Christ Jesus when all who have believed in Him will be with Him and will be revealed to His creation (Romans 8:19).

When a believer in Christ welcomes the suffering that may result from expressing love to others, by the grace of God, he or she has moved beyond disabling fears (Romans 8:15-19; cf. Philippians 1:29-30). This certainly includes receiving the grace to overcome fears of what the future may bring.

Romans 8:22-28 (NASB):

22. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
23. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
24. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees?
25. But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
26. And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27. and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

3. The Word of God and the power and prayers of the Spirit can provide for a hopeful future—no matter what happens.

If you fear that tribulation may come into your life before the great tribulation, if terrible troubles do come before the great tribulation, will you trust God and confidently keep looking to Him and His Word for the grace to calm your fears?

May we keep on looking to the Lord Jesus and His grace for the insight, strength and courage to counter our fears that disable us.

Grace for No-Fear Love

How fantastic an experience it is to focus on the Lord Jesus and His love and receive the grace from Him and His Spirit that casts out fear in our life. With all that is going on in this fallen sinful world we live in there could be great cause for fear; fears that disable us. But as 1 John 4:18a declares, "Perfect love casts out fear!" Here's a translation, partly from The Amplified Bible:

"There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but full-grown (complete, perfect, mature) love casts out fear!"

The verses that lead up to this declaration have drawn a great deal of attention to the awesome love God has for us as demonstrated by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus (4:7-17). The Lord Jesus came to this earth in a real human body so that He could ultimately suffer and die in our place, bearing our sin and thereby satisfying (propitiation) the righteous and just demands of our holy God (1 John 3:16; 4:1-6). Jesus clearly has shown us what God's love means. God the Father has shown us how His love is defined by sending His Son to give His life for us. The Father sent the Son to earth and the Son willingly came to do battle for us and win the victory over sin, death and all evil.

When we become more and more occupied with Jesus Christ and His love for us, we will find that His love has cast out our fears more and more.

A 5-year old boy named Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn’t want to go in alone. He said, “It’s dark in there and I’m afraid.” She asked again, but the boy continued to resist because of his fear of what might be lurking in the dark. Finally Johnny’s mother said, “It’s OK—Jesus will be in there with you.” Johnny walked hesitantly to the door of the dark pantry and slowly opened it. He peered into the darkness of the pantry, but his fear began to overcome him and he started to close the door. But suddenly an idea came to him. He said, “Jesus, if you’re in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?”

We chuckle at Johnny and his way of dealing with his fear of entering the dark. But we might be very much like that five year old boy when it comes to fear of other things in our life. We may wish that Jesus would suddenly appear from the darkness and put an end to what we fear. We should know that in a real sense Jesus is available to us and wants to appear from the darkness to shine the light of His Word upon the solution to our fears. The Lord certainly does not want us to be plagued by fears that disable us.

Nearly everyone (if not everyone) has experienced disabling fears to some degree or another. Disabling fears are those fears that keep us from doing what we would really like to do. For believers in Christ Jesus who want to please and honor Him, the most frustrating of all disabling fears are those fears that keep them from doing what they know Jesus wants them to do.

There are a lot of ways people have overcome their fears through counsel and psychological maneuverings. But, as 1 John 5:18 indicates, God's love brought to maturity in us is what casts out fear.

How does God’s love reach a level of maturity in us so that it casts out fear? By being occupied with the love God has shown us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. (Study and ponder 1 John 3:16-18 and 4:7-17 to appreciate the context leading up to 4:18.)

I remember vividly the time in my life when I begin to realize that the fears that had previously kept me from doing what I knew the Lord wanted me to do seldom hindered me any longer. What had happened? By God's grace I had become more occupied with Christ and what mattered was pleasing Him. I no longer was plagued by concern over what others thought of me and what I was doing or not doing. What mattered most was pleasing the One that had given His life for me.

A main result of being occupied with Jesus Christ and His love for us is a change in our relationships with others. When our perspective is there you are as we look to meet the needs of others and not here I am (no longer being occupied with self or being occupied with self less and less), fears are “cast out” of our life because God has given us His mature love by His Word and His Spirit.

Occupation with Christ Jesus and His love and grace demonstrated by His person and work provides the knowledge base required so that the Spirit of God can bring you to the place where your fears do not disable you as they once did.

Yes, God's perfect love in us casts out fear! This is God's work in us by His grace.