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The Fear of God (1)

'I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.' (Luke 12:4–5)

In 1985, David Pawson (a well known and respected Bible teacher) asked God if there was anything missing from the Church in the UK, and God said: 'Yes, the fear of me.' I believe those words came from the Lord, so I think it would be good for us to do a biblical study on the fear of God.

Political correctness

The Church seems to have moved away, in recent years, from the hellfire preaching of previous centuries, as if it's politically incorrect to talk about such things nowadays. This has happened despite the fact that Jesus said that when he returns to judge the world, those who are considered unworthy of eternal life will be thrown into the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:31–46).

Proverbs 16:11 says that honest scales and balances are from the Lord. Christians can emphasize the love of God so much, and neglect God's wrath, God's anger and the fear of God, that our teaching of the Bible becomes unbalanced.

I have in front of me a copy of one of the most popular evangelical tracts used in this country at the moment, and what is its theme? God loves you (John 3:16). Nothing is said about God's wrath, God's anger against sinners, hell, or eternal punishment—all of which are biblical doctrines. Instead, it only speaks about God's love. In fairness, it does say that if man continues to go his own way it leads to spiritual death, but that's as far as it goes.

The reality of hell

Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid of man, who could only kill their bodies but could do no more. He said there was one person they should be afraid of, and that was God, who had the power not only to bring their lives to an end, but also to throw them into hell. 'Yes, I tell you,' said Jesus, 'fear him.'

The Greek word translated 'afraid' and 'fear' in that passage is phobeomai. It comes from the Greek word phobos from which we get the English word 'phobia'. It means: 'to be fearful, afraid or terrified'. But why should mankind be terrified of God? Because God has the power to throw us into hell, that is why.

People often joke about hell, but hell is real. Hell is the place of eternal torment that Jesus spoke about and warned about (Mark 9:43–48). Hell is a terrible place. Hell is so bad that God's own Son had to die an horrific death to save us from it.

Proverbs 16:6 says:

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.

Through the love and faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, sin has been atoned for. Because we fear God (who has the power to throw us into hell), we avoid doing evil.

Punishment on earth

That we should avoid doing evil because of fear is also taught in the New Testament.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. (Romans 13:1–5)

Those words were written to Christians. If we avoid doing evil and do what is right, then we will have no fear of God, or of punishment—either here on earth, or in the world to come.

We know that there are good governments and bad governments but, nevertheless, the principle of government has been established by God to keep law and order. The above passage tells us that God has given authority to governments to punish those who do wrong (including Christians) on his behalf (v4), and that if we want to be free from the fear of the governing authorities we must obey the laws of the land in which we live.

Perfect love drives out fear

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:16b–18)

This passage of Scripture puzzled me for many years. On the one hand Jesus, speaking to his disciples, said they were to fear God who had the power to throw them into hell and yet, on the other hand, 1 John 4:18 tells us that the one who fears God has not been made perfect in love. The answer to this apparent contradiction hinges on the definition of love the Bible gives a few verses further on.

This is love for God: to obey his commands. (1 John 5:3a)

If we are perfect in our love for God we will obey his commands and, therefore, will have no fear of God on the day of judgement because God only punishes those who do wrong. Therefore, 1 John 4:18 could be paraphrased as follows:

There is no fear in obeying God's commands. Obeying God's commands drives out fear, because fear is the fear of punishment. The one who fears is not obeying God's commands.

Romans 13:3 says that if we want to be free from the fear of the one in authority we must do what is right. Similarly, if we want to be free from the fear of God we must do what is right. If we obey God's commands we will have no fear of God, because obeying God's commands removes all fear of punishment. That is why we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because we are living in love, living in God, and obeying his commands.

Redressing the balance

In 1985, God told David Pawson that what was lacking in the Church (in this country at least) was the fear of God. Perhaps we've emphasized the love of God too much in recent years, and now need to teach the fear of God to redress the balance. Both the love of God and the fear of God are biblical doctrines. The Church needs to teach the whole will of God (Acts 20:26–27) and not just its favourite truths, or the doctrines it finds most palatable.

Michael Graham
January 2005

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