What is 'the fear of God'--is it still necessary for a Christian or not???

[thefightinglamb]

Just wondering....I was going to write the thread as 'are baptists God-fearing Christians' or do they prefer just the term 'God-loving Christians'...are those two terms exclusive, aka can you not be both?

The verses I see to consider are 'Perfect love casts out fear'...but also all of proverbs tells of how fear of the Lord is essential...but then again Soloman was led astray by his many wives in old age...

But also in Acts, the author speaks of churches being built on the fear of the Lord, developing and multiplying...

Even in baptists churches I have heard people say that when you fear God, you no longer fear anything...

I undeerstand that born-again is also essential to a description of a believer, but I am not dealing with this in this thread...I just wanna know about the fear of the Lord...

God bless and may God's grace enrich us all
antony of the wounded LORD​

 

[Baruch]

Just wondering....I was going to write the thread as 'are baptists God-fearing Christians' or do they prefer just the term 'God-loving Christians'...are those two terms exclusive, aka can you not be both?​

The verses I see to consider are 'Perfect love casts out fear'...but also all of proverbs tells of how fear of the Lord is essential...but then again Soloman was led astray by his many wives in old age...​

But also in Acts, the author speaks of churches being built on the fear of the Lord, developing and multiplying...​

Even in baptists churches I have heard people say that when you fear God, you no longer fear anything...​

I undeerstand that born-again is also essential to a description of a believer, but I am not dealing with this in this thread...I just wanna know about the fear of the Lord...​

God bless and may God's grace enrich us all

antony of the wounded LORD​

I believe fearing the Lord is done out of humble respect, and yet that is an inadequate definition.

In these scriptures below:

Philippians 2: 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

We see how fear and trembling can remind a believer to take heed on how he builds on that relationship of faith in the Lord.

So many use verse 12 as signifying the emphasis on the believer to do work out their salvation, but not so. Fear and trembling would suggest a mutual respect towards the Person in verse 13 Whom is really doing the work in them as we are His workmanship, and we cannot tack on any filthy rags of righteousness in making His work as our own or achieved by our effort.

This would explain the warning about making promises that are His to keep.

Matthew 5:33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

The law of promises and things that binds like commitments to do something... even to follow Christ... they speak of the man and his intention and will, but Jesus had no confidence in the flesh of men to do His work, otherwise, He would not have bothered to come, but as it is, He knew what was in man, and He would have no one testify of man in their commitments or promises for no religious person can live the christian life for no matter how much the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak so what is impossible with man... is possible with God.

Numbers 30:2If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

The misconception today is that many believers think that it is what's in the heart that counts as they trust God to help them keep their promises and their commitments, but God would have no part in sharing His glory with man's glory. Either He does it because of His Covenant with us or man does it, and labours in unbelief, coming short of that rest in Jesus.

Psalm 50: 14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: 15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. 16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee. 18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. 19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. 20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. 21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. 22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. 23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Matthew 12: 35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Matthew 15:7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man...18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a man:

John 5:31If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

John 7:18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

Proverbs 25: 27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Isaiah 64:6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

John 3:28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.

2 Corinthians 4:5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

2 Corinthians 3:4And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

So in that, there is fear of the Lord as it is a reverant fear.

Psalm 100:3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 118:8It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

John 6:28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

 

[iwant2serve]

The fear of God is basically the same fear we should have for our parents. Meaning it is the reverence of His athourity and magestic power over all His creation. It is not as to be afraid of Him as much as to repect Him. In Proverbs the 1st chapter is says in so many words that the fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom.

 

[Aliciaforjesus]

My fear of the Lord comes from the thought of disappointing Him and not finnishing the race!

Perfect love cast out all fear, and I know in His presence this is true!

He is my friend why would I fear a friend?

 

[LynnJ]

One of the Webster dictionary definitions for the word fear is "a reverential awe." According to Vine's Expository Dictionary, the Greek word phobeo, used in Acts 10:2; Col. 3:22, 1 Pet. 2:17, Rev. 14:7, 15:4; and 19:5, means "to show reverential fear." Also according to Vine's, the Greek word eulabeomai, which appears in Heb. 11:7, means"to be cautious; to act with reverence produced by holy fear." Thus, a fear of the Lord is not one of terror but of awe and reverence.

I believe that both love and reverential fear of God are vital for believers today.

 

[Thaddaeus]

I think it would depend on your faith, fear is for those that don't trust Him for their salvation, God said Mt 10:28And FEAR NOT them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
if we know we are saved then :
Ro 8:15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby WE CRY, Abba, Father.

2ti 1:7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.2ti 1:8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;2ti 1:9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

 

[watchmen]

There will be a day that we will all have to stand before God and give an account. The thought of that should have us shaking in our boots, not only to live according to His word, but to preach the gospel of reconciliation to all who ever cross our paths.

 

[LynnJ]

I think some misunderstand which definition of fear is being used with reference to God. Many words in English have various meanings and nuances. To fear God does not mean to be in terror of Him but to have a holy reverence for Him. Because of His majesty and holiness, among many other things, I believe we definitely should hold Him in highest honor and reverence.

 

[MahogonySnail]

One preacher once explained it to us as a set of scales, with fear of God on one side and love on the other. Ideally the scales should be in balance. The idea is that love of God causes us to fear (respect) Him, and the fear of God causes us to seek His love.

I believe the following type of fear in 1 Jn is the fear of punishment, which might be a terror of Him:

Because if our love is made perfect, we have boldness in the day of judgement and should not be shaking in our boots as watchmen described hehe..

1Jn 4:17 In this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, that as He is, so also we are in this world.

No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn’t have perfect love. –1 John 4:18

And it even says how love is made perfect, it is by loving the brethren:

1Jn 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.

And I guess that's basically what people are judged for is their lack of love, which can be a root cause for many types of sins etc.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Although fear may mean respect, or awe of God, those words don't capture the experience of what it's like to really fear God and tremble before Him. And it's not just sinners who do that, anyone mortal does. Reading the old testament whenever anyone encountered God or an angel, their first response was fear, so it may mean a kind of terror fear. You would be very scared if you were standing right next to 14400000 volts of electricity so I suppose standing right next to God is extremely terrifying. Which is why God or the angel says " fear not", as the first thing they say when they reveal themself to a person. I believe fear of God, really does mean, being afraid of God. It seems to be a normal human reaction.

 

[watchmen]

I think some misunderstand which definition of fear is being used with reference to God. Many words in English have various meanings and nuances. To fear God does not mean to be in terror of Him but to have a holy reverence for Him. Because of His majesty and holiness, among many other things, I believe we definitely should hold Him in highest honor and reverence.

I agree we should have holy reverence for the Lord, and much love for our Heavenly Father, but we should also fear Him.
Hebrews 10
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 

[LynnJ]

I agree we should have holy reverence for the Lord, and much love for our Heavenly Father, but we should also fear Him.
Hebrews 10
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

You are right. I was only defining fear in one instance, but the flipside cannot be ignored. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Aliciaforjesus]

Although fear may mean respect, or awe of God, those words don't capture the experience of what it's like to really fear God and tremble before Him. And it's not just sinners who do that, anyone mortal does. Reading the old testament whenever anyone encountered God or an angel, their first response was fear, so it may mean a kind of terror fear. You would be very scared if you were standing right next to 14400000 volts of electricity so I suppose standing right next to God is extremely terrifying. Which is why God or the angel says " fear not", as the first thing they say when they reveal themself to a person. I believe fear of God, really does mean, being afraid of God. It seems to be a normal human reaction.

In the presence of God there is no Fear, there is only peace and love!
The conviction of your sins when you stand in His presence is what you feel, but He is greater than even our own heart.

Depending on the situation, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the Lord, when you know you've done wrong, but it should still bring conviction, not comdemnation.
We've been freed from the Law of sin and death!

 

[Kyra]

Proverbs 8:13
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;

Yes, it is still necessary. Justice, holiness and right thinking depend upon it.

 

[BLC]

The fear that this 'watchmen' wants you to have toward God is a fear that regulates your behavior and obedience and what could happen to you if you do not obey. Fear is for the apostate person, which is the context of (Heb 10:31), fear is for the rebellious person who is reprobate concerning the faith and continually slanders and accuses the brethren. Fear is not for the child of God nor even the child that is backslidden into sin. Our behavior and obedience is according to faith and that faith works by love not fear (Gal 5:6). The Holy Spirit sheds the love of God in our heart not fear (Rom 5:5). The fruit of the Spirit is love not fear (Gal 5:22).

God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love and a sound mind (2Tim 1:7). When we walk in the Spirit we walk in love not fear (Eph 5:2). Fear has torment and no one is made perfect through fear (1John 4:17,18 ). Our boldness to approach the throne of grace to obtain mercy to help in the time of need is not through fear but we approach through love (Heb 4:16). We love Him (not fear Him) because He first loved us (1John 4:19). God is love and not fear (1John 4:8,16). God is our first love not fear. And this is love, that we walk after His commandments ...that you have heard from the beginning (2John 1:6).

Fear God and keep His commandments (Eccl 12:13). The word for 'fear' is yare, which means to be inspired because of the awesome presence of God. God draws us with lovingkindness not fear (Jer 31:3). How many times did Jesus appear to his disciples and say 'Fear not'? We have fellowship with the Father and the Son because of the love that we have received by grace and through the Holy Spirit in us, so that our joy might be full (1John 1:3,4). No one has joy because of fear. The love that we have for one another is the fruit of love that we have with God. That is the discileship of love that testifies to the world that we are of God (John 13:35).

 

[MaggieMye]

I think some of you are missing a very important point here: The term "Christian" in and of itself encomapsses the concept of being 'God-fearing'; meaning that we have an awesome reverence and awe of our Creator, His incarnate Son and His Holy Spirit BECAUSE, simply, of who He is and what He has done for us. It means that because we (hopefullly) are in right relationship with Him, exuding His love towards others, we ARE FULL of His Love....He first filling us with His love so that we can in turn love Him and then others.
If anyone calls themself a Christian, by definition, we can assume that they hold an awesome reverence for God, a complete love for and obedience to Him and exude His love towards others. Anything less than that, disqualifies a person from being identified as "Christian".
Maggie

 

[watchmen]

The fear that this 'watchmen' wants you to have toward God is a fear that regulates your behavior and obedience and what could happen to you if you do not obey. Fear is for the apostate person, which is the context of (Heb 10:31), fear is for the rebellious person who is reprobate concerning the faith and continually slanders and accuses the brethren. Fear is not for the child of God nor even the child that is backslidden into sin. Our behavior and obedience is according to faith and that faith works by love not fear (Gal 5:6). The Holy Spirit sheds the love of God in our heart not fear (Rom 5:5). The fruit of the Spirit is love not fear (Gal 5:22).

God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love and a sound mind (2Tim 1:7). When we walk in the Spirit we walk in love not fear (Eph 5:2). Fear has torment and no one is made perfect through fear (1John 4:17,18 ). Our boldness to approach the throne of grace to obtain mercy to help in the time of need is not through fear but we approach through love (Heb 4:16). We love Him (not fear Him) because He first loved us (1John 4:19). God is love and not fear (1John 4:8,16). God is our first love not fear. And this is love, that we walk after His commandments ...that you have heard from the beginning (2John 1:6).

Fear God and keep His commandments (Eccl 12:13). The word for 'fear' is yare, which means to be inspired because of the awesome presence of God. God draws us with lovingkindness not fear (Jer 31:3). How many times did Jesus appear to his disciples and say 'Fear not'? We have fellowship with the Father and the Son because of the love that we have received by grace and through the Holy Spirit in us, so that our joy might be full (1John 1:3,4). No one has joy because of fear. The love that we have for one another is the fruit of love that we have with God. That is the discileship of love that testifies to the world that we are of God (John 13:35).

You can fear God now or you can fear Him later, but you will know the terror of the Lord.
2nd Cor 5
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

[BLC]

You can fear God now or you can fear Him later, but you will know the terror of the Lord.
2nd Cor 5
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

You are rejecting what the scriptures teach about fear vs. love, because they do not fit into your domain of salvation. Don't mix in the fear of God with losing God's salvation that came by grace because of love. Knowing the terror of the Lord is based upon how well we know and understand Him through the scriptures as they relate to every part of life, especially the future. We know what happens to unbelievers who reject Christ so we persuade men. We know that there is a judgment seat that will cast men and women into the lake of fire, so we persuade men. We know the end of apostasy, so we persuade and warn men. We know the time is short, so we persuade men. We know that life is but a vapour, so we persuade men. We persuade men and women through the love of God that sent Jesus Christ to the cross as the Lamb. We persuade men and women that believing upon the finished work of Jesus Christ is enough for salvation and the forgiveness of sins.

I have a healthy fear of God that gives me an urgency, because of who He is and what He is capable of doing and were men and women are headed without Christ. But my relationship with Him is based upon His love for me. I receive grace and mercy from Him because of love not because of fear. I obey the commandments because of love not because of fear. I can walk by faith because of love not because of fear. Because of His unconditional love for me, I do not have to fear failing or sinning. I don't sin because of love, not because of fear. If I fear that I might sin, chances are I will (Job 3:25) because I have a sin nature. More people live in sin because of fear, then anything else. Did you know that the fearful will have their part in the second death (Rev 21:8). I'll leave you with this.

Mk 4:36-41 'And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him'?

 

[BLC]

There will be a day that we will all have to stand before God and give an account. The thought of that should have us shaking in our boots, not only to live according to His word, but to preach the gospel of reconciliation to all who ever cross our paths.

How can you preach reconciliation when you don't believe in it.

 

[watchmen]

How can you preach reconciliation when you don't believe in it.

That is an odd thing to accuse someone who has been reconciled to God themselves, and teaches others of their for to be. You are way off base, if you think because I do not think a habitual, unrepentant sinner cannot be a Christian unless they repent and remiss from sin as Jesus Himself taught, that that somehow means that I do not believe God reconciles man to Himself. This simply shows you lack of understand of what true reconciliation is.

Jesus said whom th4e Son sets free is free indeed. How can you claim to be free if you are still in bondage to sin?