“He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.” (Psalm 103:10-18 NASB1995)

The fear of the Lord is not just Old Testament teaching. The fear of the Lord is also New Testament teaching. And to fear God is to revere, respect, honor, worship, and obey him. To fear God involves believing that what he says he will do, that he will do it, whether promises of blessings or promises of judgments, and then to act accordingly in obedience to him. It means to do what is right and acceptable to him and to make it our goal to please him. And it involves acceptable worship of God and cleansing ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion.

[Matthew 10:28; Luke 1:50; Acts 9:31; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 3:10-18; 2 Corinthians 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 5:7; Hebrews 12:28-29; Revelation 11:18; Revelation 14:7; Revelation 15:4]

In other words, what is required of us for salvation from sin and for eternal life with God is not in words only, but in faith, attitude, mindset, and behavior. For to believe in Jesus is not of our own doing, but it is persuaded of God and it is gifted to us by God, and so it submits to the will and purpose of God for our lives in dying with Christ to sin and in living for God in his righteousness in walks of obedience to his commands in holy living. It does not demand absolute perfection, but lack of perfection is never to be used as an excuse for deliberate and habitual sin. We must obey God and not sin.

[Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; Acts 26:18; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Hebrews 12:1-2; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:24]

But is this in keeping with the grace of God? Yes! Absolutely! For the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and desires, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return for his faithful bride (Titus 2:11-14). For it was the grace of God which sent Jesus Christ to the cross to put our sins to death with him so that, by faith in him, we will deny self, die to sin daily, and walk (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord’s commands. And so we will do the works of God he has for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10).

You are Loving and Forgiving

Based off Psalm 86
An Original Work / February 19, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

You are loving and forgiving,
Jesus, Savior, King of kings.
You provided our redemption.
By Your blood You set us free.
You are gracious; full of mercy.
No deeds can compare with Yours.
Great are You; there is none like You.
Glory be to Your name.

Teach me Your way, and I’ll walk in it.
O Lord, I will walk in Your truth.
May I not have a heart divided,
That Your name I give honor to.
I will praise You, O Lord, my Savior,
For great is Your love toward me.
You have delivered me from my sins.
Your grace has pardoned me.

You, O Lord, are full of compassion,
Slow to anger, bounteous in love;
Faithful to fulfill all You promise;
Glory be to Your name above.
Hear, O Lord, and answer Your servant.
You are my God. I trust in You.
Turn to me and grant Your strength to me.
You are my comforter.

Toward Those Who Fear Him
An Original Work / April 20, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love