Holiness and the Fear of the LORD
Holiness and the Fear of the LORD Matthew 10:28
The LORD has been showing me something this week. We’re noted how dietary laws are designed to bless us, but some of God’s laws for us aren’t really about us at all. Some of His instructions are about God’s Holiness. In particular God’s command to Fear the LORD.
Now, God is good, trustworthy, loving, gracious, able to make Himself small enough to be our friend, but He is also GOD: just, almighty, pure, righteous, jealous… judging and holding accountable all who stand before Him, even us. I think we have a tendency to forget that in the church today: God is our buddy,… but our security in Christ does not change His holiness; it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fear Him.
Does that sound strange to us? Yet, the Bible tells us we are called to fear the LORD. Jesus himself says to his followers (to us), "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)
Luke 12:4-5 records it this way: "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!"
What does this mean? Often we describe the fear of the Lord as honor, reverence, respect, a general awareness that we are in the presence of our Savior…anything but actually trembling in our unworthiness before the all-consuming power of a perfect creator, anything but actual FEAR. I think we do that because we aren’t comfortable saying that we should be afraid of God. But, being comfortable isn’t what the Bible shows us it is like for God’s people to fear the LORD. In the Bible, the fear of the LORD looks like, well, like FEAR!
It’s Abraham sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22:12); The Hebrew midwives risking their own lives in rebellion against Pharaoh (Exodus 1); The Israelites refusing to go up on the mountain with Moses (Exodus 20); The people of Jericho trembling at the sight of Joshua’s army (Joshua 4); Isaiah crying out, "Woe is me!" (Isaiah 6); Josiah tearing his royal robes when the law of God was found in the temple (2 Kings 22); The disciples huddled together in amazement when Jesus calms the storm with a word (Luke 8); The criminal of the cross next to Jesus crying out to Him for mercy (Luke 23)…
Before Moses went up onto the mountain to die, he called Israel together and instructed them to fear the LORD. The thing I’d like you to notice as we read this is the juxtaposition of fear of God with confidence in the LORD’s love, election, and provision.
Deuteronomy 10:12-21:
"Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Yet on your fathers did the LORD set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day. So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen."
They are to fear the Lord because He is God of gods and Lord of lords, great, mighty, and awesome, but that are also to cling to Him. He is the master of heaven and earth, yet He has set his affection on them and chosen them. In short, they are to love Him for what He has done, but they are never to forget to fear Him for who He is.
Do we suppose we should be any different? Are we excused from fearing the LORD because our confidence is in Jesus? Well, since we’ve already seen Jesus command us to fear God, I’m going to say emphatically, "Not a chance!"
But, surely we shouldn’t be afraid of God. After all, we’re saved! We have the promise of everlasting life and of eternity with Him through Jesus. Surely it is those who do not know Jesus who should be afraid.
Yet according to Romans 3:18 (quoting from the Psalms), the opposite is true: "There is no fear of God before their eyes" is a reference to those who are still under sin. Not fearing God is part of the problem, not part of a restored relationship with Him in Christ.
You see, we were created to fear God, not because God wanted to feel scary or intimidating, but simply because of God’s nature. God is scary. God is intimidating. I mean really. He made everything with a word. He never makes a mistake. He knows everything! He has the power to do whatever He wants to do. He has all authority. Our sin offends Him. And, He has impossibly high standards.
Of course, God also created us in order to love us, and so that we might love Him. But, fearing God is loving God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 says :
"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
God is like any good father in this regard. He has our best interests at heart. He isn’t just making rules for the sake of making rules. He knows what we really need and wants us to find it in Him.
But, more than that, we know that God cannot lie. We know that He proved His love for us by giving us Jesus to die for our sins on the cross and restore us to a right relationship with Him. Even though God is scary, even though God is intimidating, we can trust God. And that trust makes it possible for us to find peace and rest in the fear of the LORD, to not be afraid to fear Him.
I love C. S. Lewis. And I’d like to read an excerpt from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe…
"Oh, yes! Tell us about Aslan!" said several voices at once; for once again that strange feeling - like the first signs of spring, like good news, had come over them.
"Who is Aslan?" asked Susan.
"Aslan?" said Mr Beaver. "Why, don't you know? He's the King. He's the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here, you understand. Never in my time or my father's time. But the word has reached us that he has come back. He is in Narnia at this moment. He'll settle the White Queen all right. It is he, not you, that will save Mr Tumnus."
"She won't turn him into stone too?" said Edmund.
"Lord love you, Son of Adam, what a simple thing to say!" answered Mr Beaver with a great laugh. "Turn him into stone? If she can stand on her two feet and look him in the face it'll be the most she can do and more than I expect of her. No, no. He'll put all to rights as it says in an old rhyme in these parts:
Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.
You'll understand when you see him."
"But shall we see him?" asked Susan.
"Why, Daughter of Eve, that's what I brought you here for. I'm to lead you where you shall meet him," said Mr Beaver.
"Is-is he a man?" asked Lucy.
"Aslan a man!" said Mr Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don't you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion."
But, surely we shouldn’t be afraid of God. After all, we’re saved! We have the promise of everlasting life and of eternity with Him through Jesus. Surely it is those who do not know Jesus who should be afraid.
Yet according to Romans 3:18 (quoting from the Psalms), the opposite is true: "There is no fear of God before their eyes" is a reference to those who are still under sin. Not fearing God is part of the problem, not part of a restored relationship with Him in Christ.
You see, we were created to fear God, not because God wanted to feel scary or intimidating, but simply because of God’s nature. God is scary. God is intimidating. I mean really. He made everything with a word. He never makes a mistake. He knows everything! He has the power to do whatever He wants to do. He has all authority. Our sin offends Him. And, He has impossibly high standards.
Of course, God also created us in order to love us, and so that we might love Him. But, fearing God is loving God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 says :
"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
God is like any good father in this regard. He has our best interests at heart. He isn’t just making rules for the sake of making rules. He knows what we really need and wants us to find it in Him.
But, more than that, we know that God cannot lie. We know that He proved His love for us by giving us Jesus to die for our sins on the cross and restore us to a right relationship with Him. Even though God is scary, even though God is intimidating, we can trust God. And that trust makes it possible for us to find peace and rest in the fear of the LORD, to not be afraid to fear Him.
I love C. S. Lewis. And I’d like to read an excerpt from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe…
"Oh, yes! Tell us about Aslan!" said several voices at once; for once again that strange feeling - like the first signs of spring, like good news, had come over them.
"Who is Aslan?" asked Susan.
"Aslan?" said Mr Beaver. "Why, don't you know? He's the King. He's the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here, you understand. Never in my time or my father's time. But the word has reached us that he has come back. He is in Narnia at this moment. He'll settle the White Queen all right. It is he, not you, that will save Mr Tumnus."
"She won't turn him into stone too?" said Edmund.
"Lord love you, Son of Adam, what a simple thing to say!" answered Mr Beaver with a great laugh. "Turn him into stone? If she can stand on her two feet and look him in the face it'll be the most she can do and more than I expect of her. No, no. He'll put all to rights as it says in an old rhyme in these parts:
Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.
You'll understand when you see him."
"But shall we see him?" asked Susan.
"Why, Daughter of Eve, that's what I brought you here for. I'm to lead you where you shall meet him," said Mr Beaver.
"Is-is he a man?" asked Lucy.
"Aslan a man!" said Mr Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don't you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion."
"Ooh!" said Susan, "I'd thought he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."
"That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs Beaver; "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."
"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.
"Safe?" said Mr Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."
I fear we in the church in our generations have tried to tame God. We want Him to be a friend, a comforter, the old chaplain over our lives nodding in approvingly or amusedly over the choices we make, as holiness no longer matter or sin was no longer a big deal. But, holiness does matter, and sin is still a big deal, perhaps now that we are believers more than ever.
Jeremiah 5:21-29 is written to God’s people:
"Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me?" declares the Lord. "Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’ Your iniquities have turned these [ordinary blessings] away, and your sins have kept good from you. For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. Shall I not punish them for these things?" declares the Lord, "and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?"
Malachi 1:10-14 is also written to the ancient people of God:
"Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you," says the Lord of hosts, "and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations," says the Lord of hosts. "But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it," says the Lord of hosts. "You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand?" says the Lord. "Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King," says the Lord of hosts, "and my name will be feared among the nations."
Israel had lost the fear of the LORD. They were no longer a people afraid to take His name upon themselves in vain. They no longer offered Him their best or treated other people like they were created in His image. Instead, they sought out teachers and false prophets who would make them feel good about their specialness to God. They had "itching ears". They made an idol of their own election as God’s people and forgot that the LORD is a holy fire. Therefore, God reminded them of His holiness by exposing them to the consequences of their sin. He brought death instead of life, defeat instead of victory, and exile instead of rest; a violent act of His Grace and a call to Repentance.
Hebrews 12:6 (quoting Proverb 3:11-12):
"For those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives."
"That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs Beaver; "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."
"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.
"Safe?" said Mr Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."
I fear we in the church in our generations have tried to tame God. We want Him to be a friend, a comforter, the old chaplain over our lives nodding in approvingly or amusedly over the choices we make, as holiness no longer matter or sin was no longer a big deal. But, holiness does matter, and sin is still a big deal, perhaps now that we are believers more than ever.
Jeremiah 5:21-29 is written to God’s people:
"Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. Do you not fear me?" declares the Lord. "Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’ Your iniquities have turned these [ordinary blessings] away, and your sins have kept good from you. For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. Shall I not punish them for these things?" declares the Lord, "and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?"
Malachi 1:10-14 is also written to the ancient people of God:
"Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you," says the Lord of hosts, "and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations," says the Lord of hosts. "But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it," says the Lord of hosts. "You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand?" says the Lord. "Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King," says the Lord of hosts, "and my name will be feared among the nations."
Israel had lost the fear of the LORD. They were no longer a people afraid to take His name upon themselves in vain. They no longer offered Him their best or treated other people like they were created in His image. Instead, they sought out teachers and false prophets who would make them feel good about their specialness to God. They had "itching ears". They made an idol of their own election as God’s people and forgot that the LORD is a holy fire. Therefore, God reminded them of His holiness by exposing them to the consequences of their sin. He brought death instead of life, defeat instead of victory, and exile instead of rest; a violent act of His Grace and a call to Repentance.
Hebrews 12:6 (quoting Proverb 3:11-12):
"For those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives."
And in Romans 11:17-23, Paul addresses the church:
"But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again."
And again 1 Peter 2:17 says
"Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."
"But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again."
And again 1 Peter 2:17 says
"Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."
Ok, so what is the fear of the Lord?
Let’s start with Proverbs.
Proverb 1:7:
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverb 8:13:
"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate."
Proverb 9:10:
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Proverb 14:27:
"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death."
Proverb 19:23:
"The fear of the LORD leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil."
So, is the fear of the LORD a bad thing? No! Why? Because it is what we should do. Because it is what’s best for us. Because it leads to life, wisdom, and blessing.
So, why do we struggle with fearing the LORD?
Proverb 23:17-18:
So, is the fear of the LORD a bad thing? No! Why? Because it is what we should do. Because it is what’s best for us. Because it leads to life, wisdom, and blessing.
So, why do we struggle with fearing the LORD?
Proverb 23:17-18:
"Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the LORD always. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off."
Sometimes it’s as simple as our own sin. We know that sinners do not fear the LORD, and we believe they should. Yet, somehow we envy that freedom from fear. We envy their ignorance of God’s holiness. Therefore, we presume upon the grace of God, as if our forgiveness means we no longer have a duty to fear God with our lives.
Romans 6:1-18 is written to those who say they follow Jesus:
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."
Sometimes it’s as simple as our own sin. We know that sinners do not fear the LORD, and we believe they should. Yet, somehow we envy that freedom from fear. We envy their ignorance of God’s holiness. Therefore, we presume upon the grace of God, as if our forgiveness means we no longer have a duty to fear God with our lives.
Romans 6:1-18 is written to those who say they follow Jesus:
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."
Hebrews 10:23-31 is also written to believers:
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who [1] has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and [2] has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and [3] has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
If this is how God views His holiness and the requirement of His people to fear the LORD, then no wonder Psalm 33:8 says,
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who [1] has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and [2] has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and [3] has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
If this is how God views His holiness and the requirement of His people to fear the LORD, then no wonder Psalm 33:8 says,
"Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him."
But, I thought perfect love cast out fear?
But, I thought perfect love cast out fear?
Doesn’t 1 John 4:18 say,
"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."?
"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."?
Indeed, but even this passage is written in the context of a call for obedience to God by loving one another, saying in verse 21:
"And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
What if we don’t? Then verse 8 tells us,
What if we don’t? Then verse 8 tells us,
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." And, if we do not know God (but think we do) then we should certainly be afraid.
Moreover, the whole weight of scripture tells us to fear the Lord.
1 Peter 3:14-15 says:
"But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;"
"But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;"
There is a direct opposition here between honoring and fearing: fearing the world and honoring the world, or honoring Christ and fearing Him.
But, more than just being something God requires of us, something we have to deal with because God is holy and we never outgrow our need for His grace and mercy in our lives, something we do as if God was going to change His mind about our salvation (which of course He says He never will), the fear of the Lord is actually good.
Psalm 25:14:
But, more than just being something God requires of us, something we have to deal with because God is holy and we never outgrow our need for His grace and mercy in our lives, something we do as if God was going to change His mind about our salvation (which of course He says He never will), the fear of the Lord is actually good.
Psalm 25:14:
The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant."
Psalm 103:17:
"But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and his righteousness to children’s children"
Psalm 111:10:
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever."
Luke 1:50:
"And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him."
What do we do with the fear of the Lord?
2 Corinthians 5:11:
"Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences."
And 2 Corinthians 7:1:
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
But, what does the fear of the Lord look like for us?
I’m sure there are a lot of answers. For me, it’s meant that I’ve returned the purchase I made earlier this week because of the language that I was hearing in it. It means that I’m not going to watch movies on the free movie channel I found on the internet, because I believe those movies were pirated. It means I will die to myself and work harder than ever on being a man of godly character and leadership in my marriage and my family.
What does it look like for you? What does the fear of the Lord and a life lived to reflect His holiness look like in your world, in your life?
Remember where this all started: It started with God’s holiness. Yet, we are also called to be holy as we reflect the holiness of the LORD. That’s a problem, because quite often we aren’t holy. And, our lack of holiness is rebellion against God. It isn’t just the lost either, it’s us.
We often talk about revival like it is either something that happens TO us or AROUND us. But, it is something that happens IN us, IN God’s people. Revival is the act or occurrence of "reviving", the condition of being "revived", of being brought back to life. The word cannot apply to anyone but the church, because everyone else is still dead in their sins and trespasses.
So, if we want revival, what is that going to look like? According to the examples we listed at the beginning of this sermon, it starts with God’s people recognizing their sin and need for grace in light of God’s holiness and walking in the fear of the LORD.
It is the same for us as individuals.
What sin do we need to deal with today? What confession do we need to offer? What changes do we need to make? What have we feared more than we have feared the LORD?
In Acts 9:31, it is recorded:
"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."
They feared the LORD, and He gave them joy in His holiness.
"Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the Arabah. The scorched land will become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, its resting place, grass becomes reeds and rushes. A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it." (Isaiah 35:4-8)
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