Also See The Wrath of God I and II Abusing or Honouring God’s Holy Name Should Christians FEAR God? A car-load of teenagers drive by and gun down a pedestrian. A man living with a woman and her daughter abuses the girl sexually. A corporate executive conceives a scam to swindle hundreds of people out of their life savings. Someone publicly spues out a stream of blasphemy and obscenity, then walks away laughing. A prominent couple in the church divorce; each marries someone else in the congregation; then they act (and expect others to act) as though it were no big deal. Now, these true-life scenarios, and many others like them, all have something in common. They are fruit of a common root. They are glaring proof that something is fundamentally wrong with our society's perception of reality. An essential component is missing in human thinking. What is it? We find it at the conclusion of the analysis of the human moral condition recorded in Romans 3:10-18 -- "there is no fear on God before their eyes." People who are not afraid to sin have no proper regard for God. They do not reverence Him because they do not love Him. As he went to live in Gerar, Abraham was worried. Later he confessed: "I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake." Genesis 20 gives us the whole story. In Exodus 1:7 we read that because they feared God, the midwives would not kill the newborn baby boys. What would have happened to those children had the fear of God been missing from those women's hearts? Does this say something to us today? In Luke 18 Jesus started a parable, "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men" (NIV). The connection is obvious. Where God is not regarded, human rights are disregarded. This speaks directly to every modern judicial system. A society that thinks low of God cannot think high of man. Justice begins with the fear of God. Why do people kill, steal, lie, curse, commit immorality, perpetrate injustices, and practice every kind of evil? Because they do not fear God. Every genuine spiritual awakening has two essential characteristics: the fear of God and the abhorrence of sin. Yes, we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8), but grace means nothing to the person who has not trembled at the holiness of God and the guilt of sin. "But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared" (Psalm 130:4).
This positive, wholesome reverence for God is the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). It is the only valid reference point for a correct understanding of reality. It alone properly prioritizes our values and produces wholesome behavior. Noah, "moved with fear, prepared an ark" (Hebrews 11:7). At the burning bush, "Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God" (Exodus 3:6). On Sinai, surrounded by awe-inspiring demonstrations of God's power, Moses exclaimed, "I am trembling with fear" (Hebrews 12:21, NIV). Such a contrast to all who play the fool before the Majesty in the heavens! But what about the New Testament? We are justified by faith. We have fellowship with God. Does the fear of God have any place in believers? In Christ, believers have a new relationship with God. But God has not changed, and that God is no play-toy. Acts 2:43 informs us that "fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." When Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead in church because they lied to the Holy Spirit, "great fear come upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things" (Acts 5:11). After Saul of Tarsus was converted, the church "grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31 NIV). Under both law and grace we are to maintain a healthy fear of God. This is an essential part of our love for Him. "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him" (Psalm 98:7). "Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear" (1 Peter 1:17 NIV). We are to submit ourselves one to another in the fear of the Lord (Ephesians 5:21). We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Many early Christians were slaves with harsh masters. How did the fear of God relate to their situation? What applications can we make to employer-employee and other relationships today? Colossians 3:22 tells us, "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God." A proper, healthy fear of God is liberating. It overcomes and displaces other fears, releasing us to serve in love. We have an awe-inspiring hope. Because we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, "let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:28, 29). "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 Corinthians 7:1). This fear is not the selfish, slavish fear so common to spurious "religion." Rather, it is the natural outflow of a living relationship with the true and living God. It is for our good as well as His glory. The fear of God keeps us from sin. If we have a proper view of both God's holiness and His grace, we will view sin as the worst thing that can happen and will abhor it above all else. When Potiphar's cheating wife threw herself at Joseph, his main concern was not for himself--what would happen to him if he were found out. Instead, what mattered was "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). Joseph's value system had the essential component--the fear of God! In Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, "God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning" (NIV). We need "Exodus 20:20" vision! "Stand in awe, and sin not" (Psalm 4:4). "By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil" (Proverbs 16:6).
The fear of the Lord overflows with blessings. They who fear the Lord lack nothing (Psalm 34:9). Everyone who fears the Lord and walks in His ways will be blessed and happy, have plenty to eat, and will enjoy a stable home life. It is right there in Psalm 128. Proverbs 22:4 declares that by the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life. How many "success" manuals and seminars tell us that? And how many glamour magazines quote Proverbs 31:30? "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" (NIV). The fear of the Lord is also an essential component of true worship (Psalm 5:7). It determines our companionships (Psalm 119:63). It is one of the most powerful motives to evangelism, as Paul affirms in 2 Corinthians 5:11. "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." And the fear of God should impel people to repentance. Two thieves were crucified with Jesus. As one verbally abused the Savior, the other retorted, "Don't you fear God?" (Luke 23:40 NIV). "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastics 12:13). "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him" (Psalm 33:8). It is time to take God seriously. copyright © 1998 by J. W. Jepson. All rights reserved, including the right to grant the following permission and to prohibit the misuse thereof: The Author hereby grants permission to reproduce the text of this article, without changes or alterations*, as a ministry, but not for commercial or non-ministry purposes. *Permission is given for publication of excerpts and condensed versions. | 
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