The Christian’s Responsibility to God Tetragrammaton - The "four-lettered name" Hebrew name of God. Remembering that Hebrew is read from right to left, this name, is most properly transliterated as YHVH, but sometimes as YHWH (Yahweh) or JHVH (Jehovah). Even though it is the name of God that appears most frequently in the Hebrew Bible, it is considered so sacred in Judaism that it isn't spoken aloud. (Acts 17:22-28), READ esp. (25), “Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. An important truth, God does not need us (Supreme & Sovereign God), We need Him Because of who He is, and who we are, it is our responsibility to determine what our responsibilities to Him might be! (Isaiah 29:13-16), “Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.“ 15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, and their works are in the dark; they say, ‘Who sees us?’ and, ‘Who knows us?’ 16 Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; for shall the thing made say of him who made it, ‘He did not make me’? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’"?

The Christian’s Responsibility 1 The Christian’s Responsibility to Worship The Throne Room scene in Heaven shows why God is worthy of worship (Revelation 4 & 5) He is worthy of worship because He is the Almighty, self-existent, eternal God of Heaven! (Revelation 4:8), “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!“ He is worthy of worship because He is our creator! (Revelation 4:10-11), “the twenty- four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.“ He is worthy because He is the author of our Salvation! (Revelation 5:11-14), “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty- four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”

The Christian’s Responsibility 2 The Christian’s Responsibility to Fear (Matthew 10:28), “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Fear: (phobeo) [Thayer] Primary meaning - to fear, be afraid. To be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm. This seems to be the primary meaning here. Why would you be afraid of men, who can only kill you? By heeding them instead of God, you would fall afoul of one who is infinitely more powerful. He is the one who can (and will) destroy the ungodly in eternal fire. He is the one you do not want to displease! Secondary meaning - to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience. Note: If we do the will of God, we have no reason to be afraid or alarmed about what He will do to us! (Isaiah 12:2), “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation. ‘” However, we must ALWAYS respect and venerate Him! (Leviticus 10:1-3), “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 3 And Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the Lord spoke, saying: “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.”’ So Aaron held his peace.” Of course, this concept of respect, as indicated by Nadab and Abihu, naturally brings to us our next point…. (Obedience)

The Christian’s Responsibility 3 The Christian’s Responsibility to Obey True fear of God is demonstrated by obedience to His will (Ecclesiastes 12:13), “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all.” Our obedience to HIS WILL determines our standing before Him (Philippians 2:12-13), “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Obedience is the test of knowing God (1 John 2:3-4), “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” In doing this, we follow the example of our Savior, Jesus (Hebrews 5:8-9), “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Obedience is a sign of our love for God! Which gets us to our last point…

The Christian’s Responsibility 4 The Christian’s Responsibility to Love (John 14:19-21), “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Note that Jesus here defines what love for Him consists of – keeping His commandments. Therefore, no man who is disobedient, or who lacks respect for Christ’s will can truly claim to love Him! (It is the litmus test)! Above all other things, God demands that we love Him! (Mark 12:28-34), “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?“ 29 Jesus answered him, " The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. ' This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ' There is no other commandment greater than these.“ 32 So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.“ 34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, " You are not far from the kingdom of God.“ But after that no one dared question Him.”

Conclusion Turn to the Bible for the “how to” of fulfilling our obligations to God. (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13), “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” There is absolutely nothing more important in life than to fulfill completely your responsibilities to the Almighty God of Heaven!