God has warned us of His wrath that is to come upon the unbelieving and disobedient. He has warned us of the eternal fate of a literal burning lake of fire that has been prepared and is waiting for those who continue to rebel and sin against Him. Knowing that there is a time of judgment coming, we are to work out our own salvation “with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Our thoughts and actions are to be governed by a holy fear.

Peter told the believers:

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. (1 Peter 1:13-17)

One of Satan's strategies today to lead Christians into rebellion and disobedience is to take away the fear of God and cause us to fear man more than we fear God. His strategy is to cause us to become hardened, indifferent, and develop a lax attitude toward sin. He wants us to abuse the grace of God and use it as a covering to follow after the lusts of our flesh.

Satan has deceived many Christians into thinking that because they are born again they will not stand before God in judgment. They live with one foot in the world, trying to get away with as much as they can without going too far into open sin. They think that God will somehow overlook their transgressions. The fear of God is not in their hearts.

There are Christians today who are walking after the lusts of their flesh — mingling with the world, using profanity, watching movies filled with lust, greed, and violence, participating in social drinking and other worldly pleasures — who are walking around claiming to be “the righteousness of God in Christ.” They have been deceived by false teaching that when they were saved they were covered by Christ's righteousness and, regardless of what they do or say, when God looks at them He doesn't see their sin. All that He sees is Christ's righteousness.

Satan is a liar! When you were born again, you were cleansed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus. You were declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). You were restored into right standing with God. However, if you yield yourself to unrighteousness and disobey God, you stand condemned before God. Unless you repent and turn away from your sin, it will be judged. Examine your heart today.

I reject the world, its lusts, and its ungodly system. I am cleansed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus and declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.