Fear of God

The “Fear of God Continuum” infographic highlights the progression from sinful fear to worshipful awe. But this journey hinges on a complete understanding of who God is: not merely His holy justice nor merely His holy love, but the perfect integration of both. When we isolate one from the other, we distort the fear of the Lord and our relationship with Him.

Adam’s Misstep: Knowing Justice, Ignoring Love

In Genesis 2:15-16, Adam was fully aware of God’s holy justice. He knew that disobedience would bring death, but he did not yet understand God’s holy love. When Adam sinned, this incomplete picture of God drove him to hide in terror. His isolation, fear, self-reliance, unbelief, escaping, and blame-shifting (Genesis 3:8-13) were the fruits of seeing God only as a righteous judge, not as a loving Father.

But God’s response in Genesis 3:15 revealed something Adam had not yet comprehended: God’s holy love. The promise of a coming Redeemer, foreshadowed through the sacrificial covering for their sin (Genesis 3:21), demonstrated that God’s love does not negate His justice but fully satisfies it. This points forward to Christ, whose life and death reveal God’s justice and love in perfect harmony (John 3:16; Romans 3:26).

This juxtaposition and integration are essential for moving along the continuum of the fear of God. Without God’s justice, His love becomes shallow and permissive. Without His love, His justice becomes harsh and condemning. Together, His holy justice and holy love create the depth and richness of the fear of the Lord—a reverential awe that leads to trust and worship.

The Danger of Imbalance

1. Justice Without Love:
   1. Leads to fear, terror, and dread.
   2. Individuals see God only as a stern judge, leaving them afraid, self-reliant, or vengeful.
   3. This incomplete view often leads to anxiety, legalism, and relational isolation.
2. Love Without Justice:
   1. Creates a superficial and sentimental understanding of God.
   2. Sin is minimized or ignored, leaving individuals without a true sense of God’s holiness.
   3. This view often results in permissiveness, neglect of biblical truth, and a shallow faith.
3. Justice and Love in Harmony:
   1. Balances the weight of God’s holiness with the depth of His grace.
   2. Leads to a reverential fear that fosters humility, trust, and worship.
   3. Transforms lives by moving individuals from terror and trembling to awe and devotion.

As believers grow in understanding both God’s justice and His love, they move along the continuum, from hiding in fear to seeking Him in worshipful submission.

Case Study: Biffy’s Journey from Fear to Worship

Biffy’s Background:
Biffy grew up under the shadow of an un-pleasable father. No matter how hard he tried, he never measured up. His dad’s critiques left him feeling small, inadequate, and insecure. Over time, Biffy began to isolate, becoming self-reliant and walking in unbelief. He blamed others for his problems and developed life-dominating addictions to escape the anxiety and worry that haunted him.

When Biffy became a Christian, he mapped his experience with his earthly father onto God the Father. He only saw God’s holy justice and expected divine punishment whenever he failed. Biffy lived in constant self-doubt, believing he needed to earn God’s favor but never thinking that he was good enough. His fear of God was not reverential but terror-filled. He obeyed out of obligation, not trust or worship.

The Turning Point:
Biffy’s transformation began when he learned the truth of the gospel: that God’s justice was fully satisfied in Christ. Through patient discipleship, Biffy began to grasp the depth of God’s holy love. Romans 8:1 became a lifeline: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He realized that God’s love does not overlook sin but paid for it in full through the sacrifice of His Son (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Biffy started to see that God’s justice and love are not in conflict. God’s justice demanded payment for sin, but His love provided the payment through Christ. This integrated view of God began to transform Biffy’s fear from terror to trust. He no longer obeyed out of dread but out of gratitude and reverence.

The Process of Repentance and Transformation:

1. Renewing His Mind: Biffy began meditating on Scripture that revealed God’s character, focusing on passages like Psalm 103:8-14 and 1 John 4:9-10. He replaced his distorted view of God with the truth of who God is: a holy and loving Father.
2. Confessing Self-Reliance: Biffy acknowledged his sinful attempts to earn God’s favor and control his life. He repented of his unbelief and began trusting in Christ’s finished work.
3. Breaking Addictions: With the help of a biblical counselor, Biffy identified how his addictions were tied to his misplaced fear and self-reliance. As he grew in his understanding of God’s love and justice, his need for escapism diminished.
4. Embracing Reverential Fear: Biffy learned that the fear of the Lord is not about cowering in dread but standing in awe of God’s holiness and grace. This reverential fear deepened his worship and transformed his relationships.

The Outcome:
Biffy’s life changed dramatically. He moved along the continuum from trembling in fear to trusting in God’s justice and love. He no longer saw obedience as a way to earn God’s approval but as a joyful response to the gospel. His worship was no longer empty rituals but heartfelt reverence for the God who is both holy and loving.

Conclusion

Biffy’s story illustrates the importance of integrating God’s holy justice with His holy love. When we hold these truths together, we gain a full picture of who God is and what it means to fear Him rightly. This understanding moves us from hiding in terror to drawing near in worship. It transforms self-reliance into trust, anxiety into peace, and sin into devotion. Let us strive to walk in this balanced and worshipful fear of the Lord, letting His holy justice and holy love shape every aspect of our lives.

This graphic was adapted from Ed Welch’s book, When People Are Big and God Is Small. It is used by permission.

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Peace,
Rick