THE FEAR OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

If many Christians are saying that they no longer should or need to fear God, then we had better look at what the actual New Testament (NT) scriptures say. Many passages specifically address this topic. Some of those who have a problem with the need to have a fear of God only believe the Old Testament teaches about the fear of God. So we will at this point only focus on the New Testament. We are not those that would skip the message of the Old Testament, but we do this in order to convince everyone to fear God. Many interesting points are found in this brief word study of the fear of God (1).

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We separated the NT references of the fear of God into four categories (NASB used).

NO FEAR OF GOD This state of not fearing God is not at all looked well upon.	COMMAND TO FEAR GOD Different authors including Jesus Himself has told His disciples to fear God.	GOD-FEARERS Description of upright people in the NT.	FEARING GOD A state essential to Christian growth
Lu 18:2 saying, "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man. Ro 3:18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." Re 15:4 "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou alone art holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE THEE, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed."	1Pe 2:17 Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Mt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Lu 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Re 14:7 and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."	Ac 10:2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the [Jewish] people, and prayed to God continually. Ac 10:22 And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was [divinely] directed by a holy angel to send for you [to come] to his house and hear a message from you." Ac 13:16 And Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: Ac 13:26 "Brethren, sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God, to us the word of this salvation is sent out.	Lu 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Ac 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 2Co 5:11 Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;	Php 2:12 Wherefore, 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. Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear: 2Co 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Reflections

1) NO FEAR OF GOD
Our first category describes those who did not fear God. They are not used in a positive sense whatsoever. In no way are they used to be examples of the faith but as those who do not believe. How does this relate to professors of faith today who say they do not or should not fear God?

2) COMMAND TO FEAR GOD
We see four clear commands in the NT to fear God. This is what we would expect. The New Testament complements the Old Testament rather than competing with it. We must refuse to think this 'fear of God' teaching is outdated. Instead we find it is connected to the well-being of our Christian lives.

3) GOD-FEARERS
These are the people we are to imitate: the God-fearers. They were called such because God's expectations and commands affected their lifestyle. This is the reason a God-fearer was another term for an upright person. Are you a God-fearer? Do God's commands shape your life or are they more like decorations?

4) FEARING GOD
Even if we didn't have these commands to fear God, we certainly could be convinced by the descriptive state of Christians actually fearing God. These Christians are not portrayed as lesser in their spiritual life but obedient, holy and living in God's presence. We especially find that the fear of God is linked to obedience and holiness. We are to conclude that without the fear of God we can not live holy lives. Here are two quotes from above.

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling".
"Perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

In summary, we find that not only is the fear of God taught in the New Testament, but it is essential to the Christian's spiritual life. There is no way to live a holy life without the fear of God. If we deny the fear of God as a major characteristic of a Christian's life, then we are making a major and serious loophole for unholiness. We might find 'problem' texts for the fear of God, but in the end because the demand to fear God is so clear, we need to find a way to resolve our understanding for these 'problem' verses that support the need to fear God.

Let's go on and discuss the key passage from 1 John 4:17 that states 'perfect love casts out fear."

Fear God and Fear not Man

Other Titles in 'The Godly Man' Series

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Biblical Foundations for Freedom

By Paul J. Bucknell

Notes:
(1) We have tried to locate all the NT phrases having this sense of fear of God. Many other times the word 'fear' is used to speak of man's fear of other things and people. Below is the findings of the word search.

Fear God	Lu 18:2 saying, "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man. Lu 18:4 "And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, Lu 23:40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? Ac 10:2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the [Jewish] people, and prayed to God continually. Ac 13:16 And Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: Ac 13:26 "Brethren, sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God, to us the word of this salvation is sent out. 1Pe 2:17 Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Re 14:7 and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."
Fear of God	Ro 3:18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." 2Co 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Miscellaneous	Mt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Lu 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Ac 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 2Co 5:11 Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. 2Co 7:1 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. Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Php 2:12 Wherefore, 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. Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear: 1Pe 2:17 Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Re 15:4 "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou alone art holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE THEE, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed."

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