Many Christians are confused when it comes to the fear of God. On the one hand, the Bible tells us again and again, “Do not fear.” On the other hand, we are told that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10), and that this fear is a defining mark of faithful Christian living. So which is it? Should we fear, or not fear?
The answer lies in understanding the kind of fear the Bible commends.
The Right Kind of Fear
There is a fear that shrinks back from God—a fear rooted in guilt, shame, dread, or unbelief. This kind of fear has to do with judgment, and as the apostle John says, “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). The gospel drives away this kind of fear, because Christ has borne the full weight of our condemnation on the cross. We are no longer slaves, but sons (Rom. 8:15).
But there is another kind of fear—one that we must have if we are to live rightly before God. This is the fear of the Lord.
As Charles Spurgeon wisely said, “The one who fears God has nothing else to fear.” This is not a fear that drives us away from God, but a fear that draws us close in reverent awe. It is what Michael Reeves calls a happy and healthy fear—one that quiets anxiety and disarms sinful fear because it is rooted in worship, not dread. It is the soul’s right response to the glory, holiness, majesty, and goodness of the Triune God.
A Fear that Leads to Joy
This fear is not a contradiction to love—it is born of love. It is the trembling delight of a child who is overwhelmed by the greatness and goodness of their Father. It’s what caused Isaiah to cry, “Woe is me!” when he saw the Lord in His holiness, and what led Peter to fall at Jesus’ feet, overwhelmed by His power and mercy. It is this same fear that causes us to resist sin, because we know the One before whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
As Exodus 20:20 reveals, the fear of God is given so that we might not sin. A right fear of God keeps us from the wrong kinds of fear—from fearing man (Prov. 29:25), from worldly anxieties (Matt. 6:25–34), and from living for ourselves. The one who rightly fears God lives a life of joyful obedience under the eye of the Father.
This is why Randy Booth says, “A God-fearing person lives all of life in the conscious presence of God.” That’s what this fear is—it’s living with the settled awareness that God is always near, always sovereign, always holy, and always good.
Learning to Fear the Lord
We cannot manufacture the fear of the Lord—it is given by grace through the ministry of the Word and Spirit. But we can and must seek to grow in it. Here are some ways:
- Meditate on God’s Word
The Scriptures were given that we might learn to fear the Lord (Deut. 17:19). Regular meditation on God’s Word, especially His majesty and holiness, cultivates this holy reverence. - Contemplate the Cross
The fear of the Lord is never divorced from the love of the Lord. At the cross, we see the justice and mercy of God meet in perfect harmony. There, our fear is not terror but trembling wonder. - Worship with God’s People
As we gather in covenant worship, we ascend the heavenly Mount Zion (Heb. 12:22–29). There, we learn to serve God “with reverence and awe.” Liturgy trains our affections to tremble and rejoice before God. - Walk in Obedience
As John Owen put it, “The fear of the Lord means the whole worship of God, all the obedience which we owe unto Him.” Obedience shapes the heart, and reverent obedience trains us to walk in holy fear. - Consider His Fatherhood
As Charles Bridges wrote, this fear is “an affectionate reverence, by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father’s law.” The fear of the Lord is not cowering before a tyrant—it is standing in awe before a perfect Father.
The Fear of God in All of Life
If the fear of the Lord is the soul of godliness (John Murray), then it must shape every aspect of our lives. It is not a Sunday-only disposition. It’s a daily way of life.
In the Church
The church must be a place where the fear of the Lord is taught, practiced, and cultivated. Paul says in Acts 9:31 that the early church “walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.” The two go together. When a church rightly fears God, there is a seriousness in worship, a joyful submission to God’s Word, and a humility in our relationships. Leaders must lead under God’s eye. But members must live with and serve one another under the same, transparently, reverently, and cheerfully. Be honest with one another so that you can truly help one another fight sin and pursue holiness.
In the Home
Parents must raise children in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), not just teaching moral behavior but shaping hearts to tremble at God’s Word (Isa. 66:2). Fathers must be shepherds who lead out in all of life—spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and physically. We must teach by word and by example how to live all of life for all of Christ, demonstrating that all of life is lived before God. Mothers must cultivate an atmosphere of nurture, beauty, joy, and reverence, demonstrating how to capture all things for Christ, taking control of chaos, bringing beauty and order to a fallen world. Children must be taught that all of life is before God’s face, and this is good, because God is good. The fear of the Lord is the foundation of a healthy home.
In Society
A nation without the fear of God is a nation ripe for judgment (Rom. 3:18). More often than not, people sin in the ways they do because they think no one sees them, and their sin won’t be found out. But Christians know that everything that happens in the dark will come to light. And so those who fear the Lord become salt and light in a tasteless, dark world. We must live as bold witnesses—men and women who, because they fear God, fear nothing else, again demonstrating that God sees and knows all. This means integrity in our work, courage in our speech, generosity with our time and resources, and hope in the face of opposition. We do the right thing in every area of life at all times because God sees and God cares.
Conclusion: Walking in Joyful Fear
The fear of the Lord is not contrary to joy—it is the gateway to it. The God-fearer is the one most free from anxiety, most bold in witness, most stable in trials, and most alive in worship. Why? Because he lives all of life under the smile of God and the shadow of His glory.
Let us therefore grow in this holy fear. Let us remember Christ our Lord—who He is, what He has done, and what He promises to do. Let us worship, obey, and delight in Him with reverent joy.
“For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.” – Robert Murray M’Cheyne
To fear God is to walk with Christ, to glorify Him in all things, and to live in the comfort and power of the Holy Spirit. This is what it means to truly live.
In Christ’s service and yours,
Nick Esch