Christian Freedom

A really good article that I find myself revisiting regularly, and therefore want to make you aware of ... was written by the cat who taught us (Matthews, Pendley, Lammers) ETHICS at Covenant Seminary. I'm thinking of it this week because Psalm 2:11 says to serve the Lord with fear. This always leads to the question, what type of fear? Here's Jones:

We should note that the Scriptures use the word "fear" in two distinct senses. There is the fear of terror and dread, and there is the fear of veneration and honor. The fear of terror makes us want to run away and hide; the fear of honor leads us to stand in awe and worship. The Gospel removes the fear of terror as a source of motivation in the Christian life. Punishment has no power to rehabilitate.

...to be motivated by the threats of the law is sub-Christian. In the words of
Toplady's great hymn:
"The terrors of law and of God / With me can have nothing to do; / My Saviour's
obedience and blood / Hide all my transgressions from view."


The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law; and, in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin; from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation; as also, in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a childlike love and willing mind (Westminster Confession of Faith, ch20.1).