Just a Reverent Respect?

If there is one particular element of the Gospel that modern Christianity has diluted more than any, it has to be the fear of God. And it’s not surprising, seeing that the fear of the Lord is one of, if not the most important aspect of true faith in God. We’re going to look at a few irrefutable scriptural references to see if that statement really measures up to absolute truth. But first let me say that it seems that the only way anyone today wants to even acknowledge the fear God at all, is by saying it is really just a reverent respect, not actually a fear. The book of Job is said to be the oldest book in the Bible, so let’s see what he thought about the matter: “Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me" (Job 9:34). And, "Therefore am I am troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him" (Job 23:15). What about Moses, what did he think of the fear of God? "And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake" (Heb. 12:21). And what kind of worship of God did David believe in? "Serve the LORD with fear,and rejoice with trembling" (Psm. 2:11). How about one of the most persecuted men of God in history, Jeremiah? ”…all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness" (Jer. 23:9). And God had something to say on this subject himself, by means of Isaiah: “…but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. And let’s not forget Jesus, for I think he knew something about this topic. "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" (Lk. 12:5). Let’s go ahead and throw in a couple of statements by the great apostle Paul: "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. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (II Cor. 5:11,12). And, "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” (Philip. 2:12). There are plenty more Bible references like these, from many others that we revere as great people of faith; but even if there weren’t, we know that there is surely nothing in the scriptures that would be contrary to these overwhelming evidences of the true nature of the fear of God.

The means by which people have been conditioned by the erroneous religious traditions today to not fear God rightly, is because the very reason for godly fear has been omitted from the Gospel by these faulty traditions. That reason is that unless we are found without sin in our lives at the end of our lives, we will be lost and go to eternal damnation and torment. Modern Christianity has conditioned those who are under it, to not understand true holiness, and the necessity of it in our lives. Jesus did not come here to suffer and die so that we would be the same creatures that we were before he did so. He came to make a way for us to be in him, whereby we become “new creatures,” with whom “old things [i.e. sin] pass away, and all things become new" (II Cor. 5:17). Jesus is not just another ram or bullock whose blood "could never take away sins" (Heb. 10:4). Yes friend, we will have to be truly holy in order to be saved from the damnation of the wicked (Rev. 20:6). Let’s not be foolish and "Let [any] man deceive [us] with vain words: for because of these things [all sin] cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience [i.e. those who commit sin] (Eph. 5:6). Understanding the truth about holiness is everything, for, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Prov.9:10). Without understanding holiness, and God’s requirement of it; and without fearing God according as he is worthy, we simply cannot "work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philip. 2:12 - again). In fact, as much as Christianity today promotes it’s brand of the love of God, one cannot understand or dwell in the true love of God without knowing and having the true fear of God. And in regard to holiness and the fear of the Lord, the scripture states that "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil" (Prov. 8;13). In conclusion, holiness is not a figurative thing, as the universally accepted modern Christian doctrines and traditions would have you believe. It is literal, attainable, and absolutely required for salvation (Heb. 12:14). And the fear of God is not just a reverent respect, it is something far more than that; and it’s what the righteous feel about the consideration of going to their grave carrying sin, or about bringing undue judgments on themselves now for failing to abide in holiness (Heb. 4:1; I Cor. 11:27-32). And so, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12:13). Amen.