11/11

So holy affections must be at the foundation and center of our religion or we have a shallow and worthless faith.

Next Edwards talks about what emotions should be a part of our feelings towards God. If our heart is going to cry out to him, what is the emotional response that it cries.

First, we must fear the Lord.

We fear him because he is 1) Creator of all, 2) Judge of all, 3) righteous.

1) He is the Creator over all. To be the Creator gives him authority over his creation.

2) He is also the Judge over all. He declares what is right and wrong. This comes from the fact that he has authority and right over all creation. Part of his authority is demeaning what is right or wrong.

3) He is righteous. As a judge he is righteous. Believe it or not, some people in authority misuse and abuse their power. Judges accept bribes and favor those with the most money. God cannot be bribed. He is not respecter of position or wealth. He judges and acts righteously.

Knowing this about God, our proper response is fear. We have a healthy respect for the authority over us. We respect his position and his work.

Here (briefly) is (in part) what the Bible has to say about fearing God.

Fearing God is foundational for everyone (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). This is not just for religious people or those who go to church. Fearing God and respecting his great authority is foundational for everyone on the planet. Unfortunately not everyone approaches God in fear. This gets us into trouble.

Further those who fear God as a righteous God, act morally righteous because they know God to be the judge over all. So fearing God calls people to moral living (Genesis 42:18, Exodus 1:17).

True religion and true godliness are characterized (in part) with the fear of the Lord. This is hard for us as American Christians. Authority is "the man." We don't like to listen to the man. Rules are meant to be broken and authority is out of touch to the real man's needs. Most people in authority on TV or in movies are not smart but achieved their position by sucking up to the other bosses who are also not smart. This is what we are constantly being told (if you don't believe me watch The Office).

But we cannot takes this attitude from our culture and bring it into our church. For one of the characteristics of true religious soul affection towards God is trusting in his authority and obeying him in fear.