A New Voice of Freedom

Podcast 146, Acts, “Pt 9 B, Ch 9”In the previous podcast we covered Acts 9 verses 1-30. Here we shall pick up with verse 31.Acts 9:31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.Well, for one thing, the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had rest because Paul was no longer going from door to door wanting to kill them. The church is rapidly growing. Two phrases from the above are significant: “walking in the fear of the Lord: and “in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.”First, what does it mean to “walk in the fear of the Lord”? Variations of the phrase appear in the Bible over a hundred times. It is helpful to examine the context. Let’s first turn to Proverbs:Proverbs 1:7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.Proverbs 9:10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.First of all, we cannot whitewash the term “fear” and pretend it means something other than what it says. From a logical standpoint, if we did not have any fear of anything, it is very likely that our humble lives would be very short. That makes the phrase, “fear is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom” quite meaningful. When we fear something, we tend to examine it very closely to avoid personal harm. Even wild animals have a high level of fear and spring into action upon the least threat. We call it instinct. “Fight or flight” is a familiar term to most everyone. One of the greatest protections we have in mortality is law and it is law that we must fear for law is absolute. Everything, whether temporal or spiritual, is based upon law. In the temporal world we refer to law as “the laws of nature.” In the spiritual world we refer to law as “the commandments of God.” The scriptures connect fear directly with keeping the commandments, Deuteronomy 5:29      “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always…”1 Samuel 12:14           “If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice…”Psalm 128:1    “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.”Ecclesiastes 12:13       “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”Paul associates fear of the Lord with perfection and holiness. 2 Corinthians 7:1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.Fear of the law is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom because the law of obedience is our greatest protector and our greatest friend. We all know what happens when we violate the laws of nature. For example, without gravity earth would be uninhabitable; yet gravity has killed millions of careless people for it is unforgiving. As the temporal law of gravity is absolute so is the law of justice, which is spiritual, absolute. The law of justice, like the law of gravity, is not only absolute it is also unforgiving. Without justice God would cease to be God. The only reason we have the law of mercy is because that is the only way God could save us from the law of Justice. When Adam fell, we all fell with him under the iron law of justice. The law of justice is infinite; therefore, the law of mercy had to be infinite. If we did not have the law of mercy, the law of justice would condemn us forever for our sins, allowing no repentance, no redemption, no salvation. God must obey the law of justice, or he would cease to be God. The reason Christ was perfect is because he perfectly obeyed the law of justice. Because of the fall of Adam, we are all under the law of justice. Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we may all be saved from the law of justice but only if we choose to obey the commandments of Christ. That is why we must fear the law. Fortunately for all mankind, we also fall under the law of mercy. Sin is violation of law. Without law there is no sin. Because Christ atoned for our sins, he was able to institute the law of mercy. In other words, he alone has the power to forgive us for our sins. ‘Fear of the Lord’ means that we should honor his commandments. By keeping the commandments of Christ, repenting of our sins, and enduring to the end, we avoid the claims of the law of justice. That is our only salvation. Christ died that he might satisfy the law of justice thus freeing us from its awful grasp. Justice had no claim on Christ because he never violated the law of justice. However, unless we obey the commandments of Christ, the law of justice will claim its due on us and bind us to Satan forever.  Next let’s look at the phrase, “the comfort of the Holy Ghost.” ‘Fear of law’ and ‘comfort of the Holy Ghost’ are nice companions. We are to walk “in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.’ Christ said,  John 14:15-18If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.If we keep the commandments, the Holy Ghost will abide with us forever. When accompanied by the Holy Ghost fear takes on a higher meaning. It is one of the great paradoxes of Christianity that fear of God gives us comfort forever. Many of the commandments of God apply only to this life. For example, only in this life can we kill, steal, commit adultery, covet, lie, cheat, bear false witness, etc. Those are not choices we can make in the next life. This life determines the quality of life we have in the next. There is a haunting phrase in Hebrews.Hebrews 11:35 “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.”How does one obtain a better resurrection when all resurrected bodies are perfect? Physical perfection and spiritual perfection are entirely two separate things. A phrase even more haunting is found in the Sermon on the Mount.Matthew 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.No one but Christ is perfect so how can we be perfect? The above scripture speaks only of the resurrection. We are made perfect through Christ. Without Christ none can be made perfect. That is what a ‘better resurrection’ means. Paul describes the resurrection this way. 1 Corinthians 15:40-42There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:Resurrections differ in light, glory, and power, not in physical perfection. That is why there is a first and second resurrection. Only those who come forth in the first resurrection can be made perfect even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect. All resurrections, however, are perfect in physical appearance,Also speaking of keeping the commandments, Christ said, John 14:21-27He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.Miracles did not cease with the death of Christ. When miracles cease, that means that the spirit of the Lord is withdrawn. And if the spirit of the Lord is withdrawn, then the world is in tremendous trouble. What could be worse? Acts 9:32-33And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Æneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.To perform a miracle, one must have faith in Jesus Christ. To recognize a miracle, one must have the Holy Ghost. The same kinds of miracles Christ performed were also performed in Christ’s name by his disciples.