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  LIFE'S MOST IMPORTANT FEAR
  by Theodore Epp
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Summary: 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.

Topics: "Fear Of God", "Wisdom"
Scripture References: Job 28:28, Psalm 36:1, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 14:27, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Isaiah 33:6, Romans 3:9-18, Hebrews 10:31

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DESCRIPTION
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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.

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CONTENT
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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).

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/theodore-epp/lifes-most-important-fear/
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