FEAR GOD & HOPE IN HIS MERCY


"Who knoweth the power of Thine anger, even according to Thy fear, so is Thy wrath" -Psalm 90:11 [KJV]

“Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” -Psalm 5:5b [KJV]


It is the deepening conviction of the writer, that what is most needed today, is a wide proclamation of those truths which are the least acceptable to the flesh.

What is needed today, is a scriptural setting forth of the character of God--
  His absolute sovereignty,
  His ineffable holiness,
  His inflexible justice,
  His unchanging veracity.

What is needed today, is a scriptural setting forth of the condition of the natural man--
  his total depravity,
  his spiritual insensibility,
  his inveterate hostility to God,
  the fact that he is "condemned already" (John 3:18)
  and that the wrath of a sin-hating God is even now abiding upon him!

What is needed today, is a scriptural setting forth of the alarming danger which sinners are in--the indescribably awful doom which awaits them, the fact that if they follow their present course only a little further--they shall most certainly suffer the due penalty of their iniquities!

What is needed today, is a scriptural setting forth of the nature of that dreadful punishment which awaits the lost--
  the awfulness of it,
  the hopelessness of it,
  the unendurableness of it,
  the endlessness of it!

Excepting the Cross of Christ, nothing else so manifests the heinousness of sin--as the doctrine of eternal punishment. It is just because these truths have been withheld so much from public ministry to the saints--that we now find so many
backboneless, sentimental, lop-sided Christians in our assemblies!

A clearer vision of the awe-inspiring attributes of God would banish much of our levity and irreverence. A better understanding of our depravity by nature would humble us, and make us see our deep need of using the appointed means of grace.
A facing of the alarming danger of the lost sinner--would cause us to consider our ways (see Haggai 1:5 & 7) and make us more diligent to make our "calling and election sure" (II Peter 1:10).
A realization of the unspeakable misery which awaits the lost (and which each of us fully merited) would immeasurably deepen our gratitude, and bring us to thank God more fervently that we have been snatched as brands from the burning, and delivered from the wrath to come! It would also make us far more earnest in our prayers as we supplicate God on behalf of the unsaved.

-excerpt from an essay entitled, “Eternal Punishment” by Gospel preacher Arthur W. Pink --- to read the entire message go to https://reformed.org/eschaton/index.html?mainframe=/eschaton/pink_eternal_punishment.html

"...They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." -The Master, JESUS (as per Mark 2:17)

"Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving-kindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness' sake, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way. The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies." -Psalm 25:4-10 [AV]

"Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest? For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word." -Isaiah 66:1-2 [AV]

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." -The Master, JESUS (as per Matthew 5:3-4 AV)

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