25-1102a - Detailed Summary

After the reading, Steve greets the congregation and announces the lesson’s title as "Fearing God," repeating it for emphasis. Steve poses questions about whether people fear God, to what extent, and how much. He asserts that the answer is to fear God completely and stresses understanding what fearing God means. Referencing Ecclesiastes, he notes the writer’s conclusion to fear God and keep His commandments as the whole duty of man. He aims to illustrate this concept and verify the congregation’s understanding.

Steve explains that fearing God goes beyond being awestruck or merely wanting to please Him. He draws a parallel to childhood fear of parents, suggesting it’s similar to respecting and not disappointing them.

Fearing God is likened to the fear children have for their parents, involving concern for maintaining a proper image in school, with playmates, and neighbors. This includes being wholesome, avoiding foul language, not smoking, being honest, and not lying. Parents would be proud and brag about such behavior.

If children have this fear, they avoid actions that would embarrass or anger parents, potentially leading to punishment like grounding. Steve transitions to how God desires righteousness and truth in behavior from His people, much like parents.

God wants everyone to be righteous and true in behavior, knowing when they falter. People should concern themselves with pleasing Him, which constitutes fearing God. This includes approaching problems as God teaches, whether emotional or otherwise, honoring His teachings.

Steve reiterates the question of fearing God and its degree, using a personal example of obeying traffic laws as part of obeying laws of the land, which God commands.

Obeying speed limits is emphasized, not based on police enforcement but the actual law. Steve shares anecdotes of people justifying speeding by what is enforced, but insists it’s still speeding. This reflects on whether people truly fear God, as mankind often fails to fully do so, unable to keep all laws consciously.

Humanity’s incomplete fear of God is evident in not perfectly following His commands. Steve introduces Adam and Eve as an illustration but first reads a scripture to set the stage.

From Hebrews chapter 1, verses 1-4 (New International Version), Steve reads about God speaking to ancestors through prophets in various ways, and in these days through His Son, heir of all things, through whom the universe was made. The Son radiates God’s glory, represents His being, sustains all by His word, provided purification for sins, and sat at God’s right hand, superior to angels.

The point is that God communicates with creation, telling how to respect and worship Him, starting from Adam and Eve. The Hebrew writer highlights this communication, questioning if people listened then and now.

Reflecting on Adam and Eve, God placed man in the garden, allowing everything except eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, warning of death on that day. This is compared to parents warning children not to touch a hot stove to avoid burns.

God gave them the entire garden but prohibited that one tree, emphasizing the consequence of death. Steve questions how much Adam and Eve feared God in theory.

In the account, Eve is tempted by Satan as a serpent, who questions if they can eat everything. Eve corrects that they cannot eat from the tree of knowledge or they will die. Steve speculates Eve might see the serpent eating the fruit without dying, though unsure of the source.

She didn’t know death but saw the fruit as good, pleasant, and desirable for wisdom. Satan lies, saying they won’t die but become like God, knowing good and evil. This is compared to being hooked on drugs for enhancement, which is attractive.

If Eve feared God, she would have refused, like a child obeying parents not to play with fire. Instead, she didn’t fear and ate.

Eve gives some fruit to Adam, who eats, and their eyes open, realizing nakedness. They feel caught and cover themselves with fig leaves, now fearing God after the act.

The fear comes after disobedience, not before, highlighting the lack of initial fear.

Adam and Eve, realizing their nakedness after eating the forbidden fruit, attempt to cover themselves with fig leaves. They hear God approaching, likened to children hearing parents return home after disobeying instructions not to play with fire.

In fear, they hide from God’s presence in the garden. This fear emerges only after their disobedience, not before, and it is described as the wrong kind of fear—the fear of being discovered and punished for their actions.

God calls out to Adam and Eve, asking where they are. They admit to hiding because they are naked. God questions who told them they were naked and if they ate from the forbidden tree.

At this point, they are truly fearful of God, but Steve emphasizes the need to fear God in all aspects of life. God then sets consequences but promises rectification.

Paraphrasing Genesis 3:15, God tells the serpent that He will put enmity between its seed and the woman’s seed, with the woman’s seed bruising the serpent’s head while the serpent bruises the heel. Eve believes this promise, naming her first son Cain, thinking he might be the one to rectify the situation and compete with Satan.

Steve interprets this as Satan bruising the heel but ultimately being defeated by the head blow. He transitions to how fearing God involves understanding how He wants to be worshipped, leading into the story of Cain and Abel.

God clearly communicates how He wants to be worshipped, as seen in Cain and Abel’s actions. From Genesis 4, Abel keeps flocks while Cain works the soil. In time, Cain offers some fruits of the soil to the Lord, and Abel offers fat portions from the firstborn of his flock.

God favors Abel’s offering but not Cain’s, making Cain angry and downcast. Steve infers that God had shared the proper way to worship, and Cain knew but did not follow it correctly.

Cain is aware his worship is unacceptable, and Abel knew the right way, implying it was not kept secret. After rejection, Cain becomes very angry and downcast, upset at failing to impress God.

This rejection stems from not paying attention to God’s desires, showing a lack of respect and fear for God, as Cain did not bring the right sacrifice.

God confronts Cain, asking why he is angry and downcast, not accepting his pouting. God explains that if Cain does what is right, he will be accepted, but if not, sin crouches at the door, desiring him, and he must rule over it.

Steve draws from this that individuals have control over fearing God and pleasing Him through behavior. It is within one’s ability to do right, though excuses and justifications often interfere.

Cain’s anger leads him to kill Abel in the field because he did not do right and lacked fear of God. Steve points out God’s effort to reconcile, starting with the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 to repair the rift caused by sin.

This rift is like a divorce, with God expelling Adam and Eve from Eden. Similarly, God tells disobedient Israelites they will not enter His rest, showing consistent communication on worship.

God has always shared how to worship Him, as the Hebrew writer notes in various ways. As Israelites leave Egypt and reach Mount Sinai, God proposes to be their God, specifically to Abraham’s descendants marked by circumcision.

He shares how He wants them to behave and worship, giving the law including the Ten Commandments.

Beyond the Ten Commandments, Leviticus details many other lifestyle and behavioral instructions from God through Moses. Circumcision is required for children to share in the inheritance.

God establishes the priesthood, temple, altar, and specifics on building the tabernacle, the ark, and priestly duties, making priests the intermediaries between Him and the people.

The Hebrew writer in chapter 5 describes the high priest’s functions: selected from people to represent them before God, offering gifts and sacrifices for sins. The priest deals gently with the ignorant and astray, offering sacrifices for his own sins too.

No one takes this honor themselves but is called by God, like Aaron. Christ similarly was appointed, with God declaring Him Son and priest forever in Melchizedek’s order.

During His earthly life, Jesus offered prayers with cries and tears, heard due to reverent submission. Though Son, He learned obedience through suffering, becoming perfect and the source of eternal salvation for those who obey Him.

Steve interjects that the worship system with Israelites was temporary, leading into further discussion.

Steve explains that the worship system established with the Israelites was temporary, as indicated by the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 31, verse 31, which is repeated in Hebrews chapters 8 and 10. God expresses dissatisfaction with the Israelites and announces that He will replace the old covenant with a new one.

The Hebrew writer notes that a change in the priesthood necessitates a change in the covenant. The Israelites had grown accustomed to their system, assuming it was eternal, but it was not, and even Moses recognized its temporary nature.

Referencing 2 Corinthians chapter 3, starting from verse 7, Steve discusses how the ministry of death, engraved on stone, came with glory that faded from Moses' face, yet the ministry of the Spirit is more glorious. The old ministry of condemnation is surpassed by the new one of righteousness, with the transitory glory paling in comparison to the lasting one.

Moses veiled his face to hide the fading glory, symbolizing the temporary nature of the old covenant. Even today, a veil remains when the old covenant is read, but it is removed in Christ, allowing transformation into God’s image with increasing glory where the Spirit brings freedom.

The veil covers hearts when Moses is read, but turning to the Lord removes it, as the Lord is the Spirit granting freedom. Believers with unveiled faces are transformed into the Lord’s image with ever-increasing glory from the Spirit.

God has made a transition to a new covenant, which occurred on the day of Pentecost after Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, marking the end of the old Israelite covenant.

The spilling of Jesus' blood enacts the new covenant, rendering the old one obsolete as far as God is concerned, though people may continue it on earth. God’s kingdom is now in heaven, with Jesus as high priest interceding at God’s right hand.

This is how God wants worship today, as declared on the Mount of Transfiguration: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him," passing authority to Jesus, echoed at His baptism.

Jesus ascends to heaven, sitting at God’s right hand. God desires people to come to Him through Jesus, not the old Israelite system, establishing a new religion and worship centered on Jesus as advocate and sacrifice.

Jesus has the power to forgive sins, serving as the oblation for humanity.

To become a member of Jesus' church and employ Him as high priest for forgiveness, Steve references Mark 16:15-16 and Matthew 28. Jesus instructs disciples to go into the world, make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, leading to salvation.

This allows entry into God’s presence through Jesus, after His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, as He prepares to ascend.

Jesus commissions disciples to preach and baptize for salvation. Steve invites those present who have not responded according to Jesus' words to become His disciples, be saved, and have Him intercede.

Jesus enters the Holy of Holies not made by hands, offering His sacrifice for forgiveness. The invitation extends to baptism for remission of sins or requesting congregational prayers, as they stand and sing.