The Fear Of The Lord

Fear

there are different types types of fear in God’s Word

there is the fear fear of God because of sin and the punishment of sin

there is also the fear/ reverence of God that we as Christians should have

the christian church used to be known as God fearers

the person who has not been regenerated is a person without fear

Romans 3:18 LSB

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

the unjust judge

Luke 18:2 LSB

saying, “In a certain city there was a certain judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.

why should an unbeliever today fear God?

when they are listening to preachers tell them that God loves them unconditionally?

but the Word of God says just the opposite

Psalm 11:5 LSB

Yahweh tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Jacob I loved Esau I hated

but when they are told that Jesus loves them just the way they are

what is there to fear?

if He loves me unconditionally then my sin can be overlooked

if the Father loves us unconditionally then why did Jesus have to die?

the other fear spoken of in Gods Word is a reverential Fear

Acts 9:31 LSB

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria was having peace, being built up. And going on in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to multiply.

That fear is the rich convergence of awe in the presence of the eternal God—the Creator of the universe, the holy Lawgiver, the righteous Judge, and the merciful Savior—and a consciousness of being in his presence every moment. There is the convergence of awe, reverence, adoration, honor, worship, confidence, thankfulness, love, and, yes, fear. The Fear of the Lord Robert B. Strimple

the awesomeness of always being in the presence of God

the creator, sustainer, and ruler of the universe

A heart that is bowed down in worship at His feet

the same fear that there is a strong hand upon your shoulder cautioning you not to sin

the reverence of God that you will not do anything that would bring a bad reputation to His Glorious name

this reverence/ fear is coupled with the love of God

1 John 4:18 LSB

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

the other fear that is used in God’s word is terror

Revelation 6:15–17 LSB

Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

read Luke 12 1-7.

Leaven of The Pharisees

V 1

the people are being trampled

Jesus is speaking to His people

beware of the Hypocrisy of the Pharisees

don’t be religious on the outside

and full of corruption

there will be a judgement

all secret sins

all motivations

all thoughts

all will stand silent before the Judge

there wont be any arguments or defenses

V 2-3

the religious leaders— the false teachers

the preachers of today that tell you everything is going to be ok

Jesus is going to warn the people not to fear these leaders

V 4

these people all that they can do is kill you

this is quite a statement all they can do is kill?

man has a built in self preservation

the fear of death is a real thing

So Jesus is telling His friends do not fear the people who can kill you?

death in this world is passing over to the next

I like to refer it to crossing the porch into the house

If you are a child of God you will be in the presence of God

if you are unsaved you will be in hell

and this is what Jesus is warning about

Fear Hell

V 5

this fear is the fear of Judgement

standing before the Judge of the universe and V 2

Revelation 20:11–15 LSB

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. Then I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

this is the fear that Jesus is speaking of here

one that every non believer should have

the warning that Jesus is giving

He has given warnings in other passages to repent and believe

Paul says to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved

we are saved by faith putting your trust Jesus who died for sins

was buried and rose again the third day

to pay the penalty for sin

Fear the Judge fear the one who can condemn you to the lake of fire

Comforting Words

V 6-7

to those who are saved there is comfort in the fact that God knows intimately about every aspect of you

you are His bride

you are the one He is building a home for

there is nothing that happens to you that He does not care about

you are His prized possession

Take warning and fear the Judgement

or take comfort that your sin was judged on the cross