Understanding God...

Calvinist are often said to be cold, for they tell of negatives, like mans sin mature and God has the ability to hate. They go on to say, man has no understanding to know God till God gives understanding. The driving force behind this view is the power of God to do anything. With His power in place we must see His holiness and mans sin and a wide gap between us, as a fear to have the right picture of love. This view ends in Gods love as he choose His bride.

Arminianism starts out with Gods love, for they teach Gods love over comes all things. When Christ came, man was enlighten into understanding and so man can now choose God if he hears the gospel. Understanding God comes with hearing of Gods love for the world. Gods love has the power to have man understand and then have faith

So where does understanding God begin?

1)..God is love
2)..God is powerful and hates sin

Job 28:28 - And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'"

Psalms 34:11 - Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psalms 111:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures for ever!

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:29 - Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

Proverbs 2:5 - then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.


Proverbs 14:26 - In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

Proverbs 15:16 - Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.

Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.

Proverbs 16:6 - By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

Proverbs 19:23 - The fear of the LORD leads to life; and he who has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

Proverbs 22:4 - The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 23:17 - Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.

Ecclesiastes 5:7 - For when dreams increase, empty words grow many: but do you fear God.

Isaiah 11:2 - And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 33:6 - and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Acts 9:31 - So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Sama'ria had peace and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit it was multiplied.

2 Corinthians 5:11 - Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.


Does this mean Gods love has no power? Not at all. The fear of God only is the beginning of understanding God, and must not be skipped over to get to Gods love. Gods love has come and should be preached, but with the backdrop of a Holy powerful God that hates sin. This is when we get the right picture of Gods Love.


In Christ...James