Page 73 - Bible Writers Theology Original

4.6 God's Sovereign Decrees
Decrees of God can be defined as God's eternal purpose based on His most wise and holy council.
A The Only One to be Feared
Jesus Christ decrees that we should fear only the Lord which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28; Luke 23:40; Romans 11:20; n Kings 17:36). God, through the prophet Isaiah declared, "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear and let him be your dread" (Isaiah 8:13). In Ecclesiastes 12:13, God shows the conclusion of the whole matter to, "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the wholedutyofman." MosescommandedIsraelandsaid,"...whatdoththe
LORD thy God require of thee but, to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 10:12). (See also Deuteronomy 13:4; Joshua 4:24.) God decreed in Jeremiah 5:20-22, "Fear ye not me saith the Lord? will ye not tremble at my presence...?" (See also Malachi 1:6; Psalm 33:18; Psalm 96:9; Ecclesiastes 7:18; Jeremiah 42:10-11; Isaiah 8:12-13; Nahum 1:2-6; Micah 6:8; I Samuel 12:14; II Chronicles 19:7; I Peter 1:17.)
Those who refused to fear and worship the only true God faced utter destruction. "The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying. Surely as I have thou^t so it shaU come to pass, and as I have purposed so shall itstand...Fo' the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?" (Isaiah 14:24,27).
Instances of God's destruction include:
• Israel'stimeofevilassociationswithMoabites (Numbers25)
• In the time of Noah (Genesis 6 and 7)
• The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19)
• InthetimeofMosesinthewilderness(Exodus15;Deuteronomy32)
• When thechildrenofIsraelworshipedthegoldencalf(Exodus32:25- 35)
• CaptivityofIsraeltoBabylonQeremiah21-25)
Those who repented of their idol worship and made a vow to fear and worship the one true God found favor in his sight (See Jeremiah 50:4,5, Chronicles 15:1-15; Proverbs 19:23; Psalm 34:7; Luke 1:50; Isaiah 50:10; Psalm 25:12; Psalm 147:11; Acts 10:35).
The Oneness of God ♦ 57