I often hear people explain the fear of the Lord as a mere respect or reverence. But I feel as if respect or reverence does not come from fear but love. The subject becomes even more confusing to me when I read something like 1 John 4:18 that says that "perfect love expels all fear." How can we fear God while he expels all fear?
This is truly a believer of CHRIST, who wants to excel in righteous understanding and practices. Thank you blessed one, who wants to be close to the LORD JESUS CHRIST personally. i am merely an unworthy servant who desire to share the 'Good News' that i have been taught and am guided in service to others who are precious to the LORD, as HIS lambs and sheep.
The teachings of CHRIST of the New Covenant are 'spirit' and 'life' and they are profitable when a believer who have been born from above, not only of 'water' but also of the 'HOLY SPIRIT', understands them and practices them, also have that liberating 'spirit' and 'life' working in them inside and out and pouring out constantly onto others who witnesses them.
In order to excel in the New Covenant righteousness liberating teachings of CHRIST, one must forsake the thinking and the works according to the carnality/fleshly desires, in them, that have a tendency, of it's fruits (Galatians chapter 5) manifesting once again being in this world, which is 'hostile' to GOD and HIS Spiritual requirements.
For HIS requirements to HE Himself in CHRIST, redeemed people from 'sin' and 'death', as now born 'new creature' and as 'sons and 'daughters', calls them to now further continue to grow, in perseverance, in the thinking and works according to the SPIRIT/spirit living, according to the 'living' written New Covenant.
Practicing them in believe to all of them that are written as our 'guide' and 'debt' in obedience to the Gracious GOD of Salvation, through CHRIST and the HOLY SPIRIT also must in 'faith practice' remain in all of them, even to 'laying down one's life' also to them in fear to only GOD and not men. This obedience takes away all the 'natural carnal/flesh fears' that comes from this visible world., who are In ignorance to their carnal/flesh's desires. They have patiently to them that is written, practiced the Grace and Truth of CHRIST, the 'Spiritual AGAPE sound doctrine' knowledge of GOD, the life giving 'manna' from Heaven, against their own carnal/flesh and it's desires.
Christian who remain partly carnal/flesh in their thinking and according to it's desired works and partly SPIRIT/spirit in their thinking and according to HIS desired works, have their attention divided and both desires conflicts with each other, the SPIRIT and the flesh and stopping a believer from doing what he or she wants to do and that's where 'fear' sets in that person once again, when in a reminder and a stir up of memory of GOD's Word once again and when facing 'tribulations' and 'persecutions' of this world. Because they have not obediently to HIS Word(CHRIST) of 'spirit' and 'life' knowledge, love GOD and their neighbors.
There are 'two' kind of 'fears' works in a believer;
1. Fear of a carnal/flesh worries to the worldly knowledge of men, fall obedience to the necessities and pleasures of enjoyments introduced in this world.
2. Fear of SPIRIT/spirit in the Heavenly knowledge of GOD, wanting to be obedience to the necessities and pleasures and it's perseverance against the carnal/flesh desires of this world and to be fully trained and fully equipped to do all kind of Good deeds and face the on coming 'tribulation' and 'persecution' of this contradicting world of it's people in ignorance to and of the carnal/flesh, which from the very beginning have been hostile to GOD.
When a believer 'fear' GOD, through HIS knowledge(CHRIST) and in reminder and stir up of memory of HIS requirements written in that Spiritual knowledge and in spirit, conformed to them all in believe and in faith and in action faith to them, act accordingly to them, indeed 'fear' no men or be a part, equally yoked to the world and it's requirements.
And when a believer 'fear' men and this world and it's requirements and equally yoked with them, once again and also in sharing partial faith to GOD, only 'fears' GOD, for their negligence of obedient faith, further grieving HIS HOLY SPIRIT and HIS 'AGAPE' knowledge called in faith. 'Their fruit never ripen'.
'Perfect love of GOD fear, in 'abiding' according to the written sound doctrine Spiritual knowledge of the New Covenant and in practices, 'expels' the 'fear' of being punished, remaining once again in carnal/flesh fruit's practices, that once again leads to be ruled by the law of 'sin' and 'death', and also once again destined to face second death'(Romans chapter 8).
As it is written;
"Why do you 'fear' what men can do. They only can destroy the body and do no more. Rather 'fear' GOD who can destroy both the body and the soul to hell."
JESUS is teaching also to hearing witnesses to HIS Word, that there are two kind of 'fear', that a believer may encounter in them and in their lives. 'Fear' in obeying GOD's Word and denying 'self' and this world or 'fear' against disobeying GOD's Word and in not learning to love by denying 'self' and denying the world and it's necessities and pleasures it provides.
Please take time to patiently read word by words, these sharing in revelation knowledge of the New Covenant. Those who have been taught by the HOLY SPIRIT the Holy Bible, will recognize them in their 'spirit' to 'be awake' and 'stay alert' to the voice of the LORD and the HOLY SPIRIT thy GOD.