Discipline n Fear of the Lord

So I asked the Lord...

i) What's the biblical difference between indulgence in the flesh, discipline and legalism?

ii) What does it really mean to fear the Lord?

He replied through 1 Peter...

the practicalities of being disciplined...
--> "gird up the loins of ur mind" (1:13)
--> "be sober"(1:13)
--> "not conforming urselves to the former lusts" (1:14)
--> "honorable conduct" (2:11)
--> "not using liberty as a clock for vice" (2:16)

To be disciplined is to have the power in Christ to crucify the flesh, that it may be resurrected by the Spirit... to be able to say No to the flesh and to say Yes to the Spirit. Anything more rigid is legalism and anything more lax is taking God's liberty for granted.

the Whys to be disciplined
--> to be holy as God is holy (1:16)
--> fear of the Lord (1:17-19)
--> to be a living testimony to unbelievers (2:11-12)
--> to live for the will of God (4:1-2)

We fear God because we know that God is holy and not one that we can take His mercy for granted. But fear of the Lord is not to be afraid with terror (3:16)... being constantly afraid that if one does something wrong, God will mete out judgment or punishment the very next instant.

He is so faithful in answering all our questions...