Life's Most Important Fear
The sermon emphasizes the importance of fearing God and recognizing one's accountability to Him, as the root cause of all troubles and the beginning of wisdom.
Theodore Epp emphasizes that the most significant fear in life is the lack of reverence for God, as highlighted in Romans 3:9-18. He explains that many people do not recognize their accountability to God, leading to a disregard for His existence and attributes. This ignorance results in a lack of wisdom and an increase in moral and spiritual confusion. Epp points out that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, which is essential for understanding and navigating life's complexities. Ultimately, the refusal to acknowledge God as sovereign leads to various evils in society.
Text
Romans 3:9-18
Romans 3:18 is not speaking of a reverential fear of God that a person has who recognizes Him as the great Potentate of all ages and as the Almighty God we serve. Rather, this verse refers to those who have no concern for the existence, character or attributes of God. They do not think that God merits any thought at all. They completely fail to recognize their accountability to Him.
People's basic problem--the root cause of all their trouble--is that they do not know God, and they do not fear meeting God when they die. People speak lightly of death because they do not want to face its realities. People have taken it for granted that God, if He even exists, will overlook what they do and will take care of them, regardless of how they live.
People's refusal to make God the God of their lives is the fountain from which all these evils flow. Solomon said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 9:10). When people refuse to fear God, or recognize Him for who He is, they lack wisdom, and they experience increasing mental confusion. One needs only to consider the fields of modern music and modern art to see this. And in addition to the absence of wisdom and an increasing mental confusion, there is also moral and spiritual darkness.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Prov. 9:10).
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Not Knowing God
- The Consequences of Not Fearing God
- The Importance of Fearing God
- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
- The knowledge of the holy is understanding
- Moral and spiritual darkness
Key Quotes
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” — Theodore Epp
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Recognize your accountability to God and take Him seriously.
- Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, and it leads to a deeper understanding of His character and attributes.
- Start by recognizing God's existence, character, and attributes, and having a reverential respect for Him.