Our Hope in the Fear of the Lord and His Amazing Grace
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The Next Step
Now that I know these truths and have taken them for my own, what’s next? I am told to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) That is, obey the word of God and flee from anything that would offend God and discredit the name of Christ; i.e. sin. But, there is a battle within me that makes working out my own salvation very difficult at times. Romans 7:15-25 depicts the war within me because of my sin nature. “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” According to verse 25 of Romans 7 it is Jesus Christ our Lord! I am to live according to the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus. “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.” (Romans 8:1-2) Notice the phrase, ‘who do not walk according to the flesh’. In other words, I don’t choose sinful acts as my way of life. But, if I do sin, I am to come to Him and confess my sin and He will forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9) This knowledge should put hope in my heart and inspire a desire within me for a higher purpose for my life! I found the connection!! Yes, this is the truth I can give my children, that our hope is in our LORD Jesus Christ and in learning to “fear” Him: realize we will give an account to Him of whether we have accepted the way of salvation He has provided - or rejected it. God is to be feared because there is forgiveness with Him! “But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” (Psalm 130:4)
How I live my life is the proof of that decision. Ephesians 2:10 puts it this way, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
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About the Book
Our Hope in the Fear of the Lord and His Amazing Grace sees clearly the truths of human life. The Lord does not hold individuals’ inherited sinful nature against them, but He does hold each person accountable for accepting or rejecting the grace that grants freedom from the powers of sin and death.
Janice E. Ballard, as a young mother and leader in her local church, has written Our Hope in the Fear of the Lord and His Amazing Grace to help adults fulfill their calling to teach youth how to guard themselves from the dangers that modern life pose to faith in the Lord.
Each chapter begins by grounding its reflections on a scriptural passage. Additional guidance from the Holy Bible keeps that focus as the chapters address topics like gaining knowledge of God, departing from evil, trusting in God’s love, acknowledging sin, escaping from self-destruction, feeling security, embracing peace of heart, and praising and glorifying God.
If you need encouragement to renew your hope in God, to trust in His grace, and to see afresh the purifying effects of a healthy fear of the Lord, then Our Hope in the Fear of the Lord and His Amazing Grace will give you the guidance to listen to the Scriptures. Through such attentive listening, you can nurture your own faith and gain the insights to help others—especially young people—come to trust deeply in the hope that comes from the fear of the Lord and the amazing grace He offers.
About the Author
Janice E. Ballard’s faith in Jesus Christ is vibrant and alive. As a young mother, she served as a Sunday school superintendent, teacher, and women’s group leader at her church. She and her husband read and study the Holy Bible together every day. They live near Palm Springs, California