We are continuing in our study of the Doctrine of "No fear" per the mandate for the believer not to fear that is found in Matt 10:28,31; Rev 2:10; Isa 41:10; LXX.
The word translated "fear" in these passages is the Greek word "phobeo" in the imperative mood.
In the Matthew passage, Matthew records that TLJC presents fear in two ways, in a positive way as in fear, respect, awe, or reverence toward God and in a negative way as the emotional sin of fear that is a mental attitude sin.
Both are commands to the believer since they are both in the imperative mood of command in the original language. We started to look at the Lord's command not to fear first.
The emotional sin of fear is characterized by panic when one is in a dangerous situation or under sudden pressure. When someone is intimidated they are usually under pressure to compromise their norms and standards.
In such a state, the application of the principles of Bible Doctrine may become less important to the believer than the desire for security or self preservation.
Fear and the divinely provided spiritual mechanics of the PPOG cannot coexist in the believer's soul because function in the PPOG and function in the kosmic system are mutually exclusive.
We saw that the Faith Rest Drill is God's solution to fear, which when matured per 1Cor 13:13 ultimately completely drives out fear 1John 4:18;
Faith-rest as a problem-solving device is broken down into four stages:
(1) Claiming promises,
(2) concentration on doctrinal rationales,
(3) arriving at doctrinal conclusions of how the seven remaining problem-solving devices should be applied to the situation, and
(4) the committing of injustices to the supreme court of heaven under the Royal Family Honor Code.
In stage one, Faith reaches out and claims promises. This presumes that the believer knows some promises through their Perception of Bible Doctrine in Bible class.
God has made promises to the three categories of mankind, Israel, the Gentiles and the Church and we are looking at some of the promises that God has made.
The Bible records that God is faithful to Israel, and even though the first generation never learned to rest in faith upon those promises and consequently died the sin unto death, God kept his promises in spite of their failure.
When we see his Faithfulness to the stubborn and rebellious Israelites we see that he is faithful because of his own integrity.
Isaiah 43:1 - Now thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you (bought you out from the salve market of sin of which Egypt was the type); I have called you by name (“He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out," John 10:3); you are Mine (eternal security)
v 2 -"When you [encounter difficult situations and trials as illustrated by three famous events in Israelite history] pass through the waters [Exodus 14:22], I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers [Joshua 3:16-17], they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire [Daniel 3:25], and you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you."
Paul discusses the fact that even though Israel as a nation has rejected TLJC at the present time, but his promises to them will be completely fulfilled in his time. Rom 11:25-36;
God by means of His integrity, motivated by His love, and expressed through His grace gives to His children His word of honor which are called promises.
God has made promises relating to the continuity of life on the earth.
At the end of the universal flood God guaranteed the consistency and persistence of the earth's environment.
Gen 8:22; "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
The Rulership over the earth that had been previously granted the entire human race in the original promise that was given to Adam and Ishah in the garden in;
Genesis 1:26 - God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness and let them rule over the fish … the birds …the cattle, and over all the earth …
v 28 - God blessed them and God said to them, "Be faithful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it …"
This promise of rulership is restated to Noah and his family following the flood in Gen 9:1-7.
The promise states that the earth will supply mankind's material needs but man is required to work and otherwise function in a capitalistic economic environment for it to do so. Genesis 3:17b - "Cursed is the ground because of you. In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. v 18 - "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you and you shall eat the plants of the field. v 19 - "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread …
The principle of freedom and the sacredness of private property is defined in the Laws of Divine Establishment in Exodus 20:15 "You shall not steal." v 17 "You shall not lust after … anything that belongs to your neighbor. "
From this we see a set of circumstances which demand the integration of grace and faith. God has promised us every necessity that is required for sustenance in life but because of the fall, mankind must work because of the curse that came upon the earth and it’s environment as a result of the fall. Rom 8:20-21;
The earth will produce food if it is worked and God will enable us to be able to afford to buy some of it if we have worked. 2Thes 3:6-8; 2Thes 3:10; But often, the uncertainties of life cause the faint-hearted to doubt grace and lose faith.
Contributing greatly to this attitude is the fact that man and the creation are both fallen which results in physical death for the mankind and complete destruction for the creation.
Restoring faith, acquiring confidence, and developing courage in the face of a world designed to kill us motivates us to become dependent upon God's promises regarding life.
One of the most commonly claimed promises among the thousands contained in Scripture is: Psalm 23:1 The Lord is the One shepherding me. I shall not lack anything.
TLJC describes himself as the shepherd in John 10:7 "Truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." v 9 -"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture."
David goes on to point out the fact that he executed the spiritual life of Israel in
Psalm 23:3 He guides me in paths made by wagon wheels of righteousness (momentum from making good decisions from a position of strength inside the PPOG) for the vindication of His integrity.
Loyalty to truth under pressure produces the abundant flow of divine grace to the believer. One who is loyal keeps the faith and applies doctrine. This attitude enabled David to understand and then relate to us many of God's promises in his writings in the Psalms.
Psalm 34:9b; To those who fear (the Hebrew word " yare” enduring devotion, respect, and reverence) Him, there is no want. v 10b They who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
This goes back to our passage in Matt 10:28 where we have the mandate to fear or respect him who is able to destroy both the soul and body in the lake of fire.
This same attitude is expressed by the Apostle Paul in his conclusion to his letter to the Philippians: Phil 4:11 Not that I speak from want for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
v 12 I know how to get along with humble means and I know how to live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
v 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
and Phil 4:19; My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
To fully appreciate Paul's confidence in God's promises it is important to know Paul's heritage.
He was born to apparently wealthy parents in Tarsus, the capital city of the Province of Cilicia per Acts 21:39;
Tarsus was well known as an educational center and Paul is believed to have graduated by the University there.
The city was also a center of commerce because it was located on the Cydnus River, the Mediterranean Sea, and as a result was at a crossroads of major sea and land trading routes.
The province was famous for its goats' hair which at the time, was the major material in the making of tents.
It was Jewish custom for all boys to be taught a trade and it is possible that Paul's father was also engaged in the tent-making business.
The Jewish philosophy is expressed in the axiom, "He who does not teach his son a trade is much the same as if he taught him to be a thief."
Paul was a well-respected tentmaker and thus was able to call upon this expertise as a means of support after becoming an Apostle. Acts 18:3;
After his education in Tarsus he went to Jerusalem to study the Mosaic Law under Gamaliel per Acts 22:3.
Therefore, Paul's résumé included the fact that he was a natural-born citizen of the Roman Empire*, a graduate of the University at Tarsus, and an experienced tentmaker. He had a Hebrew lineage from the highly respected Tribe of Benjamin, training in the Law under Gamaliel, membership in the party of the Pharisees, and, eventually, of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court of justice.
Roman citizenship could only be acquired by birth, emancipation, naturalization, or purchase. A Roman citizen had special privileges, he could not be scourged, he had a right to appeal his case to Caesar, and he had the right to a trial in Rome.
Paul was a Roman citizen by birth. (Acts 22:28)
Paul’s birthright was from his father, a citizen of Tarsus, Province of Cilicia which was a certified Roman province dating back to 171 B.C. Citizenship privileges in the Roman Empire was known in the Greek as " politeuma"
Paul compared the citizenship privileges of the Roman and non-Roman with those of the believer and unbeliever in Philippians 3:20 Our citizenship "politeuma" is in heaven. Ephesians 2:19 You are no longer strangers and aliens but you are fellow citizens "politeuma" with the saints and are of God's household.
His heritage as a descendent of the tribe of Benjamin is described in Philippians 3:4 If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more
v 5 circumcised the eighth day of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee.
The phrase "Hebrew of Hebrews" is a claim to genetic purity within the nation Israel.
Paul can trace his lineage back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and in addition to that his blood line back to Jacob goes through Rachel, Jacob's right woman, and not through Leah, his "wife of deception," or his concubines Bilhah and Zilpah.
The birth of Jacob's twelve sons from four women can be studied in Genesis 29:31-30:24 and Gen 35:16-18;
To Leah was the mother of Reuben, Simeon Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
To Bilhah was the mother of Dan and Naphtali.
To Zilpah was the mother of Gad and Asher.
And to Rachel was mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
God considered Rachel to be Jacob's right woman therefore to Joseph was granted the rights of primogeniture including the double portion. (From him came the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh which is why there are actually 13 tribes in Israel)