B. We Must Tremble for Sin and Triumph in Christ.
Matthew FLD
SERMON SIX
HOPE AND FEAR
BALANCED
The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
—PSALM 147:11
THE favorites of God are those who fear Him and hope in His mercy. A holy fear of God must be a check upon our hope to keep us from presumption and a pious hope in God must be a check on our fear to keep us from sinking into despondency.
I. THERE MUST BE A BALANCED FEAR AND HOPE CONCERNING OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.
A. We Must Have a Holy Dread of God and a Humble Delight in Him.
We should keep up a reverence of God's majesty with a fear of incurring His displeasure and at the same time a joy in His love and grace, and an entire complacency in His beauty and bounty and benignity.
1. Reverence for God's majesty.
2. Joy in God's love and grace.
B. We Must Tremble for Sin and Triumph in Christ.
We must be afraid of the curse and the terrors of sin, but rejoice in the covenant and the riches and graces of it.