Fear of the Lord
Luke 12:4-5 (NIV)
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
5 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.
The worse thing that humans can do to a person is only to kill their natural body and beyond that there is nothing more they could do to harm a someone. The fear of natural death is the only thing that could cause people to fear humans. But God is much more greatly to be feared because not only can God destroy the human body but He can also has the power to cast them into hell after their natural body is dead. Therefore, God is to be feared more than any humans on earth no matter what their human position of authority might be and no matter if they have power to kill the natural body.
Acts 26:11 (NASB)
11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
Before Paul was saved, he was exceedingly religious and zealous and he would punish anyone that he found that believed in Jesus. He tried to force them to blaspheme by torture (hoping to damn them eternally) and he pursued them even to foreign cities.
Acts 8:3 (NASB)
3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Paul would even drag off men and women boldly entering house after house to apprehend those who were believers in Jesus and he put them in prison for this crime.
Paul was a religious zealot and people had reason to fear him because he would hunt them down, torture them, and imprison them. He supposed he could discourage others from believing in Jesus by persecuting these believers.
Revelation 12:11 (KJV)
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
During these times of persecutions many believers were killed for their faith. They may have felt fear when faced with physical death but yet they feared God more and did not love their natural lives more than the Lord.
Luke 12:9 (NASB)
9 but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
The believers would not deny the Lord even when they were tortured to compel them to blaspheme! They would not deny the Lord even when faced with death because they loved the Lord more that their own lives. They saw eternal life as more important than their temporary natural lives on earth.
Jesus had warned them not to fear man who can only kill their natural body but to fear the Lord who has power to cast them into hell. While this has direct application to martyrdom, this can also be applied to present day Christians who are not faced with torture or death for believing in Jesus.
Some carnal Christians are so weak in character that they are afraid someone will laugh at them or exclude them from the group if they do not participate in the vices or evil behavior of that group. They will readily deny the Lord by their actions because they fear man more than God.
John 12:42-43 (NASB)
42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
Even among the rulers of the synagogue there were many who believed in Jesus but they were afraid to confess him because they feared to be put out of the synagogue. They loved the approval of men more than the approval of God. This sort of behavior still continues today as people compromise in order to be accepted by the peers in their group. They seek to please men and be accepted by them more than trying to please God. This fear of man is another means of denying the Lord and it shows that they have no fear of God.
When a person fears the Lord then there is nothing else on earth that will come before the Lord because the fear of God exceeds everything else including peer pressure, human acceptance or even natural torture or death.
Proverbs 16:6 (NIV)
6 … through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
By the fear of the Lord a man will avoid evil because he fears going to hell so he will say “NO” to the cravings of the sin nature within him and discipline himself so he can please the Lord. A person who fears God will put God first place even over his own desires.
Romans 3:10-18 (NIV)
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
This is a description of people who have no fear of God before their eyes. They do not seek God, they turn away from God’s laws, none of them does what is right in God’s sight, they practice deceit, they are full of cursing and bitterness, they are swift to shed blood and are violent, they do not know the way of peace and they practice every evil work because they have no fear of God before their eyes.
Genesis 20:11 (NIV)
11 Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’
When Abraham came to Gerar in the land of the Philistines, he was afraid that the men of that place would kill him in order to take his wife for themselves. So he lied to them and told them that Sarah was his sister instead of his wife. Abraham thought that there was no fear of God in that place. If men fear God, they will not commit unrighteousness. But if they have no fear of God, they will kill anyone to take whatever they want from them. They who have no fear of God will live a lawless lifestyle and kill, and steal and commit all kinds of wickedness.
Genesis 19:4-5 (NIV)
4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom–both young and old–surrounded the house.
5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”
God sent two angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because their sin was so wicked and grievous. This is an example of a society who had no fear of God at all. They wanted to commit homosexual rape with the angels that came to destroy the place! Those who have no fear of the Lord will not be restrained from doing any form of vile sin and wickedness as they seek to gratify their own evil lusts.
It is by the fear of the Lord that men depart from evil but without a fear of the Lord mankind will become totally depraved and violent and evil and wicked. Those who fear the Lord will do what is right because they fear eternal punishment from God.
Psalm 36:1 (NIV)
1 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.
Those who live in wickedness have proven that they have no fear of God. If they feared that God would bring judgment upon them then they would live a holy life and abstain from sin. God brought destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of warning for all that lived in the following generations. If mankind chooses to sin and rebel against God then they will experience judgment and damnation.
To fear the Lord is to acknowledge that God is the supreme ruler of the universe and He had righteous requirements for mankind to obey and live by and those who break His laws will be punished for it.
Jude 1:7 (NIV)
7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
When mankind has no fear of God they will go from bad to worse and eventually give themselves totally to that which is immoral and perverted. Sodom and Gomorrah and those towns surrounding them gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion and they were destroyed as an example to all following generations that God will judge those who break His laws. The destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is an example that serves until today that men should fear God and not give themselves to depravity and wickedness. God is able to judge those who sin and He not only can destroy the natural bodies (as what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah) but God can also destroy them in the eternal fires of hell.
1 Peter 1:17 (NIV)
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
Peter admonished the believers to live their lives as strangers on earth in reverent fear. This was the proper attitude for a believer to have as they realized that they were just passing through this earth on their way to a more permanent eternal home in heaven. They were to forsake all sin and anything that displeases God because they had a goal of finishing their race and obtaining heaven. This attitude of the early church greatly contrasts with the attitude of those Christians today who assume they can live like the world, indulge the sin nature, and live a reprobate lifestyle and suppose they will still enter heaven. Those who break God’s laws and have no fruit of holiness in their lives are testifying that they have no fear of the Lord.
Malachi 1:6 (NIV)
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the LORD Almighty…
A son will honor father if he has been properly raised and a slave will also honor and respect his master. But many Christians have no honor or respect for God. They can live a carnal and reprobate lifestyle and have no fear of judgment coming upon them. It seems insane that they might fear and obey natural authority for fear of punishment but have no fear of God. Those who do such things are deceived by a false image of God that He is weak and passive and winks at wickedness and will never bring judgment on unrepentant sin.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.
The body of a believer becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit because they receive the Holy Spirit to dwell within them upon salvation. They were bought with a price and they do not belong to themselves anymore but they belong to God. They have no right to do what they want with their body anymore. The believer is to honor god with their body and not use that body for sin or sexual immorality. Their body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and is sacred for this reason and should be used to glorify God by living right and keeping God’s commandments.
Deuteronomy 31:11-13 (NIV)
11 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing.
12 Assemble the people–men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns–so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.
13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
God commanded that His law should be read before the people including the men and women and children and even the alien living among them. They were to listen to God’s law and learn to fear the Lord their God and carefully follow all of the words of God’s law. When people hear God’s law, they learn what is right and what is wrong. They have their minds renewed to see from God’s point of view. The ways of the world are contrary to the ways of God and the world will justify any sort of evil or wickedness. But God says clearly what is right and what is wrong in His sight. Those who fear the Lord will seek to learn God’s ways and then comply their behavior to conform with the laws of God. In doing so they can avoid the judgment of God and obtain eternal life but those who willfully break God’s laws will be judged for it because God is not passive with sin but requires all men to repent.
Exodus 20:13 (NIV)
13 “You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:17 (NIV)
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Leviticus 20:13 (NIV)
13 “‘If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
These are just a few of the laws of God which tell men not to murder or covet or have perverted sexual relations. If the Philistines had a fear of God then Abraham would not have to be concerned that they would kill him and take his wife. Those who fear God will obey God’s commands and visitors can feel safe in their presence because these people fear the Lord and keep God’s commands. One of the laws of God says that two men are not to have homosexual relations together because sexual relations are reserved only for a man and a woman in marriage. If the men of Sodom and Gomorrah had a fear of the Lord then they would not try to commit homosexual rape with the visiting angels that came to their city. They would not be engaged in continual sin if they had a fear of God and obeyed the laws of God. It is the law of God that reveals to mankind what is right and what is wrong. Men will be judged by God if they do not fear God and keep his commandments.
Leviticus 20:23 (NIV)
23 You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.
God wanted his people to obey his laws and decrees for right and moral living. The pagan people who lived in the Promised Land before the Israelites were living in all types of sin. They broke every law and decree of God and because of this God destroyed them from the Promised Land. Those who fear the Lord will obey and submit to the righteous laws and commands of God. If they will obey His laws this demonstrates that they fear God. Those who have no fear of God continue to sin in a bold and careless manner.
2 Kings 17:24-25 (NASB)
24 The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah.
and from Avva and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel. So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.
25 At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.
The king of Assyria deported the Israelites and repopulated the country with pagans of different races. In this manner they would still produce income and taxes without uniting against him. But these pagans living in God’s land did not fear the Lord and showed no respect toward God or His laws. God sent lions among them and killed some of them off. This man-eating plague caused them to consider their ways.
2 Kings 17:27-28 (NASB)
27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Take there one of the priests whom you carried away into exile and let him go and live there; and let him teach them the custom of the god of the land.”
28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
The pagans did not know what was causing the plague of man-eating lions but in their distress they discovered they had offended the God of Israel so a Jewish priest was sent to teach them how to fear the Lord.
Often it takes disasters or crisis to cause people to seek God and change their behavior when they are living in a haphazard or careless manner without regard for the laws of God.
Psalm 32:9 (NIV)
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
A horse or mule is controlled by a bit in their mouth. When the rider pulls the reigns it will cause pain in their mouth and they will obey and stop or turn and follow the commands of the rider. Some Christians are like a dumb horse or mule because they do not want to obey God unless they have pain. Then they will repent and promise to obey God if they are only saved from their pain or trouble. God does not want His people to be as dumb as a horse but he wants them to obey Him when they are blessed and all things are going well with them. This scripture tells the Christian not to be like a dumb horse or mule that needs pain to obey but instead fear the Lord and obey his commands at all times even without pain.
John 5:14 (NIV)
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
Sin is an open door to the enemy and Satan has come to kill, steal, and destroy. Sin opens the door to our adversary and sin can even bring disease and death. Jesus said that the man should stop sinning or something worse might happen to him. Christians should walk in the fear of the Lord and depart from all sin so that they might live a blessed and healthy and prosperous life.
Proverbs 22:4 (NIV)
4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
If Christians will humble themselves before the Lord and repent of sin and walk in the fear of the Lord and obey God’s commands, then they are open for God’s blessing. The fear of the Lord will bring wealth and honor and long life to them.
Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
When a Christian walks in the fear of the Lord and obeys His commands, he will experience life and peace. He will rest content and be untouched by trouble. It is a wise action for any Christian to have self-examination in time of trouble. If there is anything in their life that could have opened the door to trouble with Satan, they can close this door by repentance. Not every form of trouble is from unrepentant sin but this is the first factor that one should consider in time of trouble.
Psalm 34:9 (NIV)
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
Christians are commanded to fear the Lord. The fear of the Lord causes one to depart from evil. They will meditate on the word of God and renew their mind so that they do not commit any trespass against God or against his word. Those who fear the Lord will be blessed and lack nothing. There are rewards for those who fear the Lord.
Malachi 3:16 (NIV)
16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
Those who feared the Lord spoke to each other and the Lord listened and heard it. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His Name. God will both honor and reward those who fear Him and keep His commandments. Those who fear the Lord depart from wickedness because they fear God more than anything else on earth and want to live lives pleasing in His sight.
Numbers 15:38-40 (NIV)
38 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.
39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.
40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.
The color blue represents the color of royalty. The children of Israel were to put a blue cord in a tassel on the corner of their garment. The tassels were created to be a reminder to them that they were God’s children and that they should behave like royal descendants. The blue tassels were specifically meant to remind them of all the commands of the Lord so that they would obey them rather than following the lusts of their own eyes and heart. When people forget the word of the Lord then they begin to become reprobate in thinking and they begin to follow the lusts and evil tendency of their own hearts. Only by meditating on the word of God can a person renew their mind to behave like God and order their lives according to His precepts.
Jeremiah 32:37-40 (NASB)
37 “Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety.
38 “They shall be My people, and I will be their God;
39 and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.
40 “I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.
These scriptures speak of restoring the Jewish people to their land given to them by God. At that time the Lord will put His fear in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Him. It is by the fear of the Lord that people remain steadfast and holy and cling to the Lord. Without a fear of the Lord people will indulge the sin nature and become reprobate.
Isaiah 8:13 (NASB)
13 “It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread.
It was God’s command that His people fear Him and regard Him as holy because without a fear of the Lord people will not depart from evil.
Deuteronomy 13:4 (NASB)
4 “You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.
To fear the Lord means to keep His commandments, listen to His voice and serve the Lord and cling to Him without wavering. Believers in present times are also required to fear the Lord and do those things that are pleasing in God’s sight.
Psalm 147:11 (NASB)
11 The LORD favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness.
The Lord shows favor toward those who fear Him and this is another blessing that comes from fearing the Lord.
Psalm 111:10 (NASB)
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.
Those who fear the Lord will discover God’s wisdom because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Those who keep God’s commandments will have a good understanding.
Deuteronomy 4:5-6 (NASB)
5 “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it.
6 “So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
Those who learn the statutes and judgments of God receive wisdom and understanding. The nation of Israel was considered a great nation who were wise and understanding because they kept the laws and commandments of God. Those who fear the Lord are those will keep His commandments and these people will be wise and understanding as a result.
Ezekiel 44:23 (NASB)
23 “Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
The way that people are taught to discern between right and wrong and between clean and unclean is to learn of God’s laws and biblical principles to guide their lives on earth. Learning of God’s laws and obeying them is the foundation of the fear of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 4:10 (NASB)
10 “Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’
God wants His people to fear Him all of their days that they live on the earth. If they do not fear God, they will break all of His laws and commands. God’s people are to teach their children the things of the Lord and teach them how to fear God also so that they will also live righteously in their generation.
1 Chronicles 13:7-10 (NASB)
7 They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
8 David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.
9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it.
10 The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.
David moved the ark of God on a cart just as the Philistines had done when they returned it to Israel. But this was not done according to the manner prescribed by God for moving the ark and therefore it resulted in death when a man touched the ark and died.
1 Chronicles 13:12 (NASB)
12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”
David was afraid of God that day and said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” David realized that God and the things of God could not be treated in a trivial manner because God does not adjust Himself to mankind but expects men to comply with His prescribed order. David did not seek the Lord about the proper way of moving the ark but just followed the ways of the world and the example of how the pagans moved the ark.
1 Chronicles 15:13-15 (NASB)
13 “Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.”
14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.
15 The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.
When David moved the ark again, he first sought God about doing it according to the prescribed manner. The ark was to be carried upon poles on the shoulders of the Levites not upon an ox cart like the pagans did. God’s people are not to follow the ways of the world but they are to follow God’s way and God’s commands. God’s people are to comply with God’s standards not the standards of the world.
Acts 5:1-5 (NASB)
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
In the New Testament church, a man and his wife lied in order to gain the praise of man. Their sin was exposed and they dropped dead immediately in the church and great fear came upon all those who heard about this. They had a fear of the Lord because they realized God was holy and He would judge sin in the lives of believers and judges His people in the church.
Acts 5:10-11 (NASB)
10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
Great fear came over the whole church as people realized they were serving a holy God who will judge sin. This fear of the Lord caused people to live holy lives and forsake sin. Holiness and a fear of the Lord were characteristic of the New Testament church.
Acts 5:13 (NASB)
13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.
During the time of the early church the unbelievers held the Christians in high esteem because they were walking in holiness and the fear of the Lord. The unbelievers did not dare associate with them because they feared judgment of God upon their sin. The early church was not full of carnal Christians and unregenerate men and sinners because there was a fear of the Lord in the early church that kept those who were not serving God out of the church. If someone wanted to live in sin, they would have to do it outside the church with the unbelievers but they would not be able to join the church and live in sin the way that carnal Christians do in America today. The judgment of sin in the church caused holiness and a fear of the Lord and this is why there was spiritual power in the early church and the gifts of the Spirit were in manifestation.
Acts 9:31 (NASB)
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
The early church was established in the fear of the Lord and they continued on in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. The carnal Christians and unbelievers did not feel comfortable in the early church because it was a place of holiness and fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NASB)
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The New Testament Church was walking in the fear of the Lord and that is why they had cleansed themselves from all defilement of the flesh and the spirit and the perfected their holiness in the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord produces holiness and this is also the fruit of the office of prophet. A prophet will expose sin in the church both individually and corporately and this will bring a fear of the Lord and holiness to the church. Holiness is the fruit of the ministry gift of prophet and the prophet brings holiness to the church for this reason. The New Testament church was established on the office of Apostle and Prophets with the Apostles bring diving order and the Prophets bringing holiness.
1 Peter 1:17 (NASB)
17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
The word of God encourages the believer to conduct themselves in fear during their stay on earth because if they have a fear of the Lord they will walk in holiness and finish their race and obtain eternal life.
Hebrews 12:28-29 (KJV)
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Paul speaks of using the grace of God to serve God acceptable with godly fear because God is a consuming fire and God will judge sin. Godly fear causes people to walk in holiness and keep God’s commandments.
Colossians 3:22-23 (NASB)
22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
When people work only when the boss is watching it means that they are not sincere in their hearts but are only hypocrites. Those who have a fear of the Lord will work even when no one is watching them because they know God sees everything and they cannot be cheating their employer of wages when they did not earn it. A fear of the Lord will keep people honest even when no humans are watching because they fear God and do what is right for that reason.
Philippians 2:12 (NASB)
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
Paul spoke to the believers at Philippi that they should not just obey when they are in the presence of Paul but even much more during his absence. They were to work out their salvation with fear and trembling knowing that God sees all things and they should do what is right even when no one else is watching them. A fear of the Lord causes people to live right even when they are in private.
Revelation 19:5 (NIV)
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!”
This scripture speaks of God’s servants and they are characterized by the fact that they fear God. Fearing God is what makes a person a true believer in Christ. Many may call themselves Christians but a lack of a fear of the Lord will disqualify them.
Matthew 7:22-23 (NASB)
22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
These carnal Christians prophesied in the Name of the Lord, cast out demons, and preformed miracles but Jesus will tell them to depart from Him because He never knew them. These are those who practiced lawlessness and that means that they had no fear of the Lord.
Acts 10:35 (NASB)
35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.
Every man in every nation that fears the Lord and does what is right will be welcome by God. God is no respecter of persons and all that fear Him and obey His commands will be welcomed by Him.
Proverbs 23:17 (NIV)
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
Carnal Christians are those who envy the sinners and want to indulge in the flesh themselves. But a true believer will be zealous for the fear of the Lord and they will do what is right in God’s sight even when no one is looking.
It is the fear of the Lord that causes men to depart from evil and it is the fear of the Lord that was ruling the early church when the church was full of holiness and power of God. When men lose the fear of the Lord, they become reprobate and carnal. This is the state of the present-day church which has lost the fear of the Lord. If they do not repent, they will face a severe judgment at the hands of the living God.