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Should we fear God?

November 21, 2005

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Dear Friends

The Scriptures appear to give us two different and contradictory answers to this question. Of course we know that this cannot be, so it indicates that some more study is required.

There are two primary verses that indicate that we should not fear God. They are 2 Timothy 1:7 which says “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” and 1 John 4:18 which says “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.” The former verse really has nothing to do with the fear of God. Paul is telling Timothy that the Holy Spirit power he has is not a timid spirit but one that should allow him to preach the Gospel without fear of persecution. The latter verse we will come back to after looking at verses for the fear of God.

There are many verses in the Bible which speak of the fear of God. A sampling is as follows: Lev.25:17; Dt.6:2, 6:13, 24; 10:12, 20; 31:12, 13; Jos.4:24; 1 Sam.12:14; 2 Kg.17:39; Job 28:28; Ps.19:9; Ps.25:14; 33:8; 34:9; 96:4; 103:11, 13, 17; 111:10; 112:1; 115:13; 128:1; 147:11; Pr.1:7; Pr.22:4; 24:21; Ec.5:7; 12:13; Jer.5:22; Mt.10:28, Lk.1:50, 12:5; 2 Cor.7:1; Eph.5:21; Heb.10:31; 1 Pet.2:17; Rev.14:7.

Many have dismissed these verses as simply meaning “reverence” which is a valid translation for the Hebrew word yare’. No doubt the idea conveys reverence with it, but there are too many verses that the word yare’ is obviously used as simply meaning “fear” in the traditional sense to dismiss the notion of fear entirely.

Perhaps Proverbs 1:7 gives us a clue about understanding the fear of God. It reads “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” For people just starting to comprehend who God is there is no better place to start than with fear and reverence for God. One cannot truly appreciate God unless there is an understanding of His immense power, His righteousness, His holiness and His demand for obedience. There is an increasing trend today to minimize these Divine attributes to the point of making God a punch line of a joke. A good starting point is the knowledge that God is the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and not One to be trifled with. Those who minimize God and His power would do well to fear God.

Yet, at the same time, the Bible gives us an entirely different picture of a loving Heavenly Father. He loved us so much that He gave His son for us. He wants us to be in His Kingdom. It is this aspect of God that the spiritually mature cling to as described in 1 John 4:18. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.” This is not saying we forget that God is all-powerful and demands obedience. On the contrary, it is the greater appreciation that God is using His power in love for all those that love Him. Verse 16 gives us the context: “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

So let us fear God by understanding His immense power, holiness and Divine requirements of us, but also go on to that perfect love which casts out fear.

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Cor.7:1)

Have a great week!

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