jd.morrison
Puritan Board Sophomore
Two things:
I have been teaching a Bible Study using Jeremiah Burroughs' book, "Gospel Fear".
1.) I have been trying to get a better understanding of what it is to Fear God, and to Fear and Tremble at His Word. Class is going great, and we are having great instruction and discussion time. However, one of the guys in my study group is convinced that in a Post New Testament world that Love is emphasized more than fear which is associated with the Old Testament. Wanting to avoid a discussion on Dispensationalism, or Ignorance Concerning OT's Relationship to the NT and its importance for the Christian, am I correct in the following:
To fear God and tremble before his Word means and is caused by the following:
1. To truly be terrified, fearful, and to tremble before Him and His Word.
2. That trembling soul sees that it is the Word of God. He sees God in it.
3. He sees the abundance of the glory, the majesty, the greatness, the excellency of God that Shines in His Word.
4. It sees a most dreadful authority in the Word of God.
5. A gracious heart trembles at God's Word because it sees an infinite justice in the Word of God.
6. A gracious heart sees the Word of the Lord backed with infinite power.
7. It sees the luster of God's holiness and, being conscious to itself of impurity, that makes it to tremble.
8. The glorious, high, and divine mysteries that are revealed in God's Word that make a heart tremble.
9. The soul trembles at the Word because it sees that the Word Casts all men regarding their eternal estate.
10. The heart trembles because the Word searches "the inward and secret parts of the heart"
11. The heart trembles because it sees truth in the Word when it speaks of the Great Day.
Most of these are either taken from the book "Gospel Fear" or are paraphrased from my understanding of what Burroughs is stating.
Where it speaks of Dread, it truly speaks of dread, from what I understand of what scripture speaks. However it is not a hopeless dread, it is a dread and fear that causes us to cling to Christ all the more. It is the reprobate who have a hopeless fear.
So am I and Burroughs correct, scripturally speaking, and if I am how can I clearly and authoritatively communicate this?
2.) I have been trying to find resources to better understand this. In His Word, I am using Isaiah 66:1-6, and 2 Kings 22:19, as well as selections from Psalms and Proverbs. I am using the "Gospel Fear" book, as well as Calvin's commentary on Kings and Isaiah. And I am using this "Trembling at the Word"
Is there any other Reformed or Puritan who discusses this? Even better, how about an Early Church Father?
I have been teaching a Bible Study using Jeremiah Burroughs' book, "Gospel Fear".
1.) I have been trying to get a better understanding of what it is to Fear God, and to Fear and Tremble at His Word. Class is going great, and we are having great instruction and discussion time. However, one of the guys in my study group is convinced that in a Post New Testament world that Love is emphasized more than fear which is associated with the Old Testament. Wanting to avoid a discussion on Dispensationalism, or Ignorance Concerning OT's Relationship to the NT and its importance for the Christian, am I correct in the following:
To fear God and tremble before his Word means and is caused by the following:
1. To truly be terrified, fearful, and to tremble before Him and His Word.
2. That trembling soul sees that it is the Word of God. He sees God in it.
3. He sees the abundance of the glory, the majesty, the greatness, the excellency of God that Shines in His Word.
4. It sees a most dreadful authority in the Word of God.
5. A gracious heart trembles at God's Word because it sees an infinite justice in the Word of God.
6. A gracious heart sees the Word of the Lord backed with infinite power.
7. It sees the luster of God's holiness and, being conscious to itself of impurity, that makes it to tremble.
8. The glorious, high, and divine mysteries that are revealed in God's Word that make a heart tremble.
9. The soul trembles at the Word because it sees that the Word Casts all men regarding their eternal estate.
10. The heart trembles because the Word searches "the inward and secret parts of the heart"
11. The heart trembles because it sees truth in the Word when it speaks of the Great Day.
Most of these are either taken from the book "Gospel Fear" or are paraphrased from my understanding of what Burroughs is stating.
Where it speaks of Dread, it truly speaks of dread, from what I understand of what scripture speaks. However it is not a hopeless dread, it is a dread and fear that causes us to cling to Christ all the more. It is the reprobate who have a hopeless fear.
So am I and Burroughs correct, scripturally speaking, and if I am how can I clearly and authoritatively communicate this?
2.) I have been trying to find resources to better understand this. In His Word, I am using Isaiah 66:1-6, and 2 Kings 22:19, as well as selections from Psalms and Proverbs. I am using the "Gospel Fear" book, as well as Calvin's commentary on Kings and Isaiah. And I am using this "Trembling at the Word"
Is there any other Reformed or Puritan who discusses this? Even better, how about an Early Church Father?