Today I want to discuss the concept of fear, specifically what it means to conduct ourselves with fear. I know in my own life this has been the subject of some debate. Are we supposed to be afraid of God? Or, does it simply mean we honor him with reverence because He is just so loving, and jolly, and kind? Maybe you have had similar debates. We’ll stick primarily to scripture. But, I am also going to lean on Charles Spurgeon again today. Let’s see if we can pull the thread on exactly what conducting ourselves in fear means for Christians.
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
1 Peter 1:17-19
If
So, we are to conduct ourselves with fear if we are those who call on God as our father. Before we go any further, what does that little preposition if mean? It could mean that those who do not call on God as Father should not fear God. At the very least it seems we can infer that those who do not call on God as Father are not instructed to conduct themselves in fear. That seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Shouldn’t the unregenerate unbeliever conduct themselves with more fear? Aren’t they, as writers of a previous generation might say in for it?
I fear we must return to the salutation
I think the riddle of this little if is easily solved if we recall to whom this letter is written. Peter addresses this letter to Christians, and not to unbelievers. In his salutation he specifically addresses the letter to the elect…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. (See: Called: The Quest: Day 18.0) So, we know that even though Peter was a great missionary to the lost throughout his life, here he is writing to believers, and not to unbelievers. In other words, how unbelievers conduct themselves is immaterial. It’s not the point.
Calling on a judge or father?
Peter is basically telling his audience, if you really are Christians…conduct yourselves with fear. But, before we move on to defining this here fear, let’s look at Peter’s description of God. Peter calls God a Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds. Why should a Christian both fear God because He is an impartial judge and call on Him? Why not just run away?
To answer the second question, you can’t run from God. I hope to do a study on the nature of God at some point. But, for now, I will sum up as best I can in one sentence why you cannot escape from God. God is not part of creation (meaning, He is not part of nature or the universe), and He is not bounded by creation, so He is not somewhere from which you can run away.
Should we fear the judge?
The first question is more complicated. But, in a nutshell: We call on God because He called us. We love God because He loved us. The fact that He will judge all of mankind impartially is a very sobering thought, but it is also no reason not to call on him. It will happen whether we call on Him or no. Christians believe the word of God. And, as it happens, the word of God says we are all going to be judged.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
James 5:7-9
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15
Cast your eyes upon Jesus
But, how great a mercy is hidden in Peter’s words! How do Christian’s call on God according to Peter? Not as “Oh, Judge,” but as “Oh, Father.” That is a real mercy. If we are adopted sons and daughters of God, we know that while we too must go through judgment, the righteousness of Christ will stand in the gap for us. We have what the old-timers called blessed assurance. I personally don’t believe it means we will feel no fear, or that we will stand proudly before the judgment seat with our heavenly collars popped and heads held high. No, sir. I believe we will tremble. But, I also believe we may well stand with our eyes cast upon Christ in love, awe, reverence, and immense thankfulness.
What’s all this fear stuff then?
Okay, so we know this exhortation is directed toward believers. We know these believers call on God as Father. These Christians believe that judgment is coming. Now what? What does it mean to conduct ourselves with fear? Should we cower and be afraid? Does it simply mean being still and recognizing the awesomeness of God? What does the Bible say about fear? Did Jesus say anything about fear? (I know there are some folks who will only accept a thing if Jesus said it.)
Before we delve into scripture, let’s be sure we are looking at the right word. I trust in the Holy Spirit to shepherd the translation of scripture. (Please, let’s not debate the willful translations of the last 50 years. I am talking about translations that are sticking to the script. I am not talking about “translations” that try to make scripture friendly to people who don’t like what the original script actually says.) But, words can be confusing, so let’s figure out what word in Greek is used here. Then, let’s find it’s corollary in Hebrew. Then we can find out where it is used in the OT.
Greek and Hebrew
The word Peter uses here is φόβος, or phobos. It’s clearly where we get the English word phobia, and it clearly has an element of real fear – of the fear and trembling variety. In the New Testament, this word is used 47 times. We find it used to describe the response of men and women when they encounter angels: Matthew 28:1-8, Luke 1:12, Luke 2:8-9, etc. Also, we see it in the reactions the disciples and others have to Jesus’ miracles: Mark 4:35-41, Luke 1:63-66 , Luke 5:22-26. As miracles were being done among the Apostles we see phobos used, translated as awe, Acts 2:42-44, but also as something close to terror, Acts 5:1-11.
Real fear
So, it turns out this is a real fear. What are we to do with this sort of idea? When I was younger, I would have rejected it outright. I would have said, “God is love, and there is no fear in the perfect love of God.” I would have also said, “By conducting ourselves in fear, Peter only means we should respect God.” But, now I would argue otherwise. I can see that I had ignored the facts. Jesus himself says that we should fear God as judge. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28) The Greek here is φοβεῖσθε, phobeisthe. This is the same root, phobos, but with a should added to it. Jesus uses it twice, telling us what we should not fear and then what we should fear. Peter is essentially saying the exact same thing.
Fear: yarih and yare
In Hebrew there are at least two words for fear in the Old Testament (I am not a Hebrew scholar. I am not even a scholar!). There may very well be more, but for today, let’s look at two. One is יִרְאָה or yirah, and the other is יָרֵא or yare. We can see right away that these are from the same root. Yirah means “a fear,” and is often translated in the phrase the fear of the Lord, and often as reverence. This was the sort of thing the younger me had in mind to encompass all Biblical uses of the English word fear.
But, along comes yare. Yare means “afraid, fearful.” It is often used similarly, but obviously differently, to refer to the fear of God: Genesis 22:12, 1 Kings 18:3, Job 1:8 etc., or when people actually fear for their lives as in Genesis 32:11.
Two kings on fear
Interestingly, David and Solomon use both yirah and yare when speaking of the fear of the Lord. For example, David says, the fear [yarih] of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; (Psalm 19:9). And, Who is the man who fears [yare] the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. 14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear [yare] him, and he makes known to them his covenant. (Psalm 25:12-14)
Solomon writes, The fear [yarih] of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). And, Whoever walks in uprightness fears [yare] the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises Him (Proverbs 14:2)
I did mention I am not a scholar, right?
So we have yarih – reverence, awe, as well as yare – real fear, being afraid. It seems to me that yarih lines up somewhat with faith, hope, trust, etc. in the Lord. I could be wrong, but yare seems to be tied to obedience. Perhaps we can think of the distinction here as that between mind and will. The mind fears [yarih] God in the sense that it believes and trusts in God and is humbly thankful, worshiping Him for his goodness and grace. The will fears [yare] God and therefore obeys his word, seeking to imitate Christ in actions and deeds.
What about have no fear?
But, how do we deal with the verses that tell us not to fear? What happens to Paul’s, or you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15)? What about John’s, There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love (1 John 4:18)? I think the answer to both of these rely heavily on the work of God. Paul says we need not fall into fear because we have the Spirit of God. If we had the spirit of the flesh only, that would be a great reason to fear. John says we have the love of God. If we were not living and walking as those loved by God, that too would be a great reason to fear.
The Prince of Preachers on fear
There is a kind of fear which is to be shunned and avoided, — that fear which perfect love casts out, — because it hath torment. But there is another sort of fear which has in it the very essence of love, and without which there would be no joy even in the presence of God. Instead of perfect love casting out this fear, perfect love nourishes and cherishes it, and, by communion with it, itself derives strength from it. Between the fear of a slave and the fear of a child, we can all perceive a great distinction. Between the fear of God’s great power and justice which the devils have; and that fear which a child of God has when he walks in the light with his God, there is as much difference; surely, as between hell and heaven.
Charles Spurgeon, A Fear to be Desired, November 7, 1878
Spurgeon agrees there are different kinds of fear, one we should embrace and one we should refuse. Spurgeon, in this sermon, was covering the text of Hosea 3:5: Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days. He has some great insight into the word fear. (To be fully transparent, this is the Hebrew word פָחַד or pachad, which means “to dread, be in dread or in awe.” Still, it is a valuable insight.)
Fear toward the Lord
This appears even more clearly in the Hebrew, for they who best understand that language tell us that this passage should be read thus, “They shall fear toward the Lord, and toward his goodness.” This fear leans toward the Lord. When thou really knowest God, thou shalt be thrice happy if thou dost run toward him, falling down before him, worshiping him with bowed head yet glad heart, all the while fearing toward him, and not away from him. Blessed is the man whose heart is filled with that holy fear which inclines his steps in the way of God’s commandments, inclines his heart to seek after God, and inclines his whole soul to enter into fellowship with God, that he may be acquainted with him, and be at peace.
Charles Spurgeon, A Fear to be Desired, November 7, 1878
Spurgeon unites the exhortations of Paul and John beautifully in the passage below.
The fear of God also takes another form, that is, the fear of his Fatherhood which leads us to reverence him. When divine grace has given us the new birth, we recognize that we have entered into a fresh relationship towards God; namely, that we have become his sons and daughters. Then we realize that we have received “the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Now, we cannot truly cry unto God, “Abba, Father,” without at the same time feeling, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” When we recognize that we are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ,” children of the Highest, adopted into the family of the Eternal himself, we feel at once, as the spirit of childhood works within us, that we both love and fear our great Father in heaven, who has loved us with an everlasting love, and has “begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.”
Charles Spurgeon, A Fear to be Desired, November 7, 1878
I fear we’ve run out of time!
This study has grown over-long. I need to wrap it up! Let’s end with two verses that illustrate the importance of fearing God as we progress in sanctification. I hope you have enjoyed this odd and extremely winding hike along the mountain pass called fear. It has been very informative for me!
Fear and trembling
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
Solomon and Peter walk into a bar…
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
