Fear God?

[stork321]

Is it just ok to do good things because you fear God?

You keep his commandment because you fear Him?

I mean you do this all because youre afraid because you might not go to heaven?

To be clear what I'm pointing to....you keep His commandments because you love God out of fear?

I'm confused about this matter..

Sorry if I have many questions regarding this matter..

Thanks.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

God does not want us to love Him out of fear... when the Bible speaks of the fear of the Lord it could be better translated 'in awe'. The meaning of the word 'fear' was different in 1611 thatn what it is now.

Our relationship should be that we love God so much for what He has done for us, that we want to please Him and obey Him. The use of fear to repent and be saved is a tactic used by some other denominations that preach a hellfire message... not what we are about at all.

 

[Shrewsbury]

I agree. Fear used in the sense of "the fear of God" does not mean fear as used when afraid of someone or something. Rather, it means not wanting to let God down, just as if we don't want to let down our wife or parents. To be filled with the fear of God is to be so full of love for Him that you do not want to do anything that will let Him down.

The original Hebrew word means "respect" or "be in awe of."

 

[Shrewsbury]

Strong's reference is 3372 - yare in Hebrew.

 

[Shrewsbury]

The link to see exactly what this means: Strong's Hebrew: 3372. יָרֵא (yare') -- to fear

 

[singpeace]

I agree. The beginning of wisdom is found in the reverence and awe of God. This fear has no torment or alarm.


Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.


Job 28:28
And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'"

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

 

[Stewartnz]

A brief note if I may, on the relationship between "the fear of God" and "love for God".

During the reign of Jehoshaphat "the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. " (2Chronicles 17:10)

The kingdoms around about Judah revered the name of God at that time. They stood in awe of the power they had seen, and did not dare make war against this man of God (Jehoshaphat). They did not, however, have a love for God, yet they were in awe of Him, and were thus restrained.

It seems clear that the "fear of God" does not pertain to Christians only. [And it does not necessarily imply any love for Him.] But God would have the two things - "Godly fear" and "love" - blended.

It was this blend, I believe, that made Joseph speak and act as he did to Potiphar's wife... "how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Gen 39:9)

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Excellent point Stewart...

I think we all tend look at these things from a 'God's people' point of view...

Many of the enemies of His people have been in awe and ascribed respect to God.... Pharoah, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, and many others throughout history. Lucifer himself knows first hand the wonder and Majesty of God and, I'm sure begrudgingly, is still in awe of Him.

 

[stork321]

I agree that God dont like that we keep his commandments because were afraid of Him..and serving Him because were afraid of Him..

That's why God did not destroy satan from the very beginning because He dont like that His people will be serving Him because they fear God (threatened)..He wants us to keep his commandments because we love God..(correct me if my understanding is wrong)

This happens to me many times that if I'm going to choose between good and evil, the idea of fearing God because I'm afraid that I may not go to heaven always pops into my head, thats why I chose to do the good one..I know this is not right..thats why I always pray to God that this fear will be replaced by love and teach me how Godly love is..

btw thanks for all your responses..

 

[taikachanz]

This happens to me many times that if I'm going to choose between good and evil, the idea of fearing God because I'm afraid that I may not go to heaven always pops into my head, thats why I chose to do the good one..I know this is not right..thats why I always pray to God that this fear will be replaced by love and teach me how Godly love is..

btw thanks for all your responses..

Here's how I look at it. When I am torn between doing what is right and what is wrong I consider, do I want to spend eternity with my Lord or do I want to be with out him for all eternity? It is a fearful thing to consider, afterall, what are we without him? But when I consider the love he has shown me, for it was he who first loved me, not me him, the choices become easier. I am in no way perfect, but I pray he will help me perfect who I am until his nature in reflected in me.

God bless

 

[Shrewsbury]

Here's how I look at it. When I am torn between doing what is right and what is wrong I consider, do I want to spend eternity with my Lord or do I want to be with out him for all eternity? It is a fearful thing to consider, afterall, what are we without him? But when I consider the love he has shown me, for it was he who first loved me, not me him, the choices become easier. I am in no way perfect, but I pray he will help me perfect who I am until his nature in reflected in me.

God bless

I agree. I really love my family and pray that they will find Christ before it is too late (some have but most haven't, and I do share my faith with them). But I was thinking about this recently and concluded that no matter how much I love my family, I want to spend eternity with God.

 

[Stewartnz]

It is interesting I think, that the fear of God is contrasted in the Bible to "the fear of man."

The fear of man brings a snare (Prov 29:25), but in the fear of the Lord is strong confidence (Prov 14:26). To stand in awe of man is not good. "Hero culture" is not good.

To be overshadowed with a sense of God's claims upon us will bring security and confidence, but when we are overshadowed with a sense of accountability to fashion, and to our friends and 'heros', and to so-called 'great men', we really do get tangled in a snare.

 

[taikachanz]

As children we, in a way, feared our parents, not that we were afraid of them, but more so that we thought they posessed a power that we did not understand. This is the way it is with the Lord. His power is so awesome and unfathomable that, if we were to stand before him we would be utterly awe struck in incapable of moving. And if we were to try to speak all the we would be able to utter would be, bbbbbbbbb.

 

[OntheDL]

Is it just ok to do good things because you fear God?

You keep his commandment because you fear Him?

I mean you do this all because youre afraid because you might not go to heaven?

To be clear what I'm pointing to....you keep His commandments because you love God out of fear?

I'm confused about this matter..

Sorry if I have many questions regarding this matter..

Thanks.

If you have children, would you want them to obey you out of fear or out of love?

It's a hellenistic concept that God is a vengeful God who needs constant appeasement. But the truth is that God is a loving, long suffering God who became like His creation and died for their sins so they might return His love.

Only the devil would demand allegiance base on fear and deception. God gives you the freedom of choice. That freedom or that liberty of conscience guarantees the allegiance to God would be out of love.

'Fear God' means to respect, reverent God.