PEOPLE SAY, “I THOUGHT PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR. WHY SHOULD WE FEAR GOD?  AFTER ALL, WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND.”

Let us examine these supposed contradictions. 

[1Jo 4:18 KJV] 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

The fear of God does not have torment.  The fear that comes from the lies of the Enemy, does have torment.  Some people call this the fear of man.  God’s perfect love casteth out fear, not the fear of God, but the fear of everything else.  

“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound…. His grace hath taught my heart to fear,(of God) and grace my fears (of man) relieved.”

Most people know this hymn, but have they considered this verse about the fear of man and the fear of God?

To build upon this point Yehoshua, is the only sinless one.  The Scriptures say He feared God.So, He’s sinless, but He just wasn’t perfected in love enough to get rid of His fear of God? Ridiculous.

OR

People are perfected in love and don’t have a fear of God?  So, man who has sinned passes up Yehovah Himself to some level of holiness, who has never sinned? This is absurd.  

Also, believing that we are maturing and being perfected in love and thinking we aren’t to have a fear of God, goes against the whole of Scripture that says we should fear God.

Yehoshua has always been sinless, perfect, and holy.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”  2 Cor. 7:1

When people twist 1 John 4 :18 to mean something that it does not, it makes it look like it contradicts this Scripture.  So, you are to grow in holiness, in the fear of God but when you are perfected there isn’t to be fear of God?  Think about it! You’re not going to grow in holiness without the fear of God.  Let no man deceive you. (2 Thes. 2:3, Eph 5:6,  Matt. 24:4)

Moving on to another verse that has been twisted by false teachers:

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Over the years, I have said to people, “Did you know that we are to have a fear of God?”  They usually said we are in a love relationship with God where there is no fear, in that we have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. They tell me,  “We do not need to fear God, brother, you just aren’t perfected in love.  You need to stand on God’s promises.”  These people are deceived and then they try to deceive others.You must study to show yourself approved.  2 Tim 2:15

The word fear in  2 Tim 1:7 is Strong’s # 1167, 1168, and 1169 are all the same root words.  (meaning the difference is their part of speech; noun, verb, adjective).  This Greek word is  deilia; timidty, fearfulness, cowardice.

These are the other Scriptures where this word is used; In these five verses, you will see fear one time, afraid one time, and fearful three times.  Mt. 8:26 and Mk. 4:40, here Yehoshua calms the sea and says to His disciples, “why are ye fearful (cowardly), O ye of little faith? (Why are you cowards), I am with you. I am the maker of the sea also.“

John 14:27; “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled (tarasso; stirred up, confused, terrified), neither let it be afraid (cowardly).  

Yehoshua doesn’t want them to be confused, terrified, or cowardly.  He wants them to be at peace.  The reason is because he is leaving them, but he leaves them with the promise of the Holy Spirit that is to come.

Rev. 21:8 “But the fearful (cowardly), and unbelieving and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”

Here we find where cowardly people end up in the Lake of Fire.  God tells us that we have not been given a spirit of cowardness.  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love, power, and a sound mind; not cowardness, but courageous boldness, not arrogance.

Power! The one who is in you is greater than the one of the world 1 John 4:4

Love!  We have a understanding of love that is based on God’s Word, not the world.  

Sound Mind!  We have been given the mind of Messiah.  1 Cor. 2:16  

A mind that is being renewed day by day. 2 Cor. 4:16

We don’t believe the voice of the stranger.  We hear and obey the voice of God. Jn 10:5

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit of adoption, has the fear of God.  It is the Holy Spirit.  The spirit of bondage again to fear; is not the Holy Spirit.  It is bondage to Satan and is the fear of man.  As Eph. 2 speaks of us all being subject to at one time.

Lk 1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

Same as Ro. 8:15.  We are to fear God without the fear of man.

Heb 2:15“And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Again, this is bondage to fear of death by Satan.

1Co 16:10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of Yehovah, as I also do.

Once again not without the fear of Yehovah, but without the fear of man.

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, Yehovah [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Yehoshua SAID THIS, He is telling us we should fear the Father, and that we should not fear man:

 [Luk 12:4-7 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them (men) that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, (God) which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore:(fear of man) ye are of more value than many sparrows.

(See also Matt. 10:28)

Whether you want to believe it or not, Believers here in America, will be faced with this- soon. Just as Believers in other countries have been, who have had a fear of God, and have been lead as sheep to the slaughter for their faith in Messiah. This nation has sinned greatly against God, and it will be punished. If this depresses you, it is because your ears have been tickled by false teachers too long, and you can’t handle the truth.

This is not to make you fearful or depressed; this is to be an exciting thing. The Bible says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28) 

Pro 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in Yehovah shall be safe.

WHAT DOES A REVERENT FEAR OF GOD LOOK LIKE?

The Fear of Yehovah is….

the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10)

clean, enduring forever (Psalm 19:9)

the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7)

strong confidence (Prov. 14:27)

instruction of wisdom (Prov.15:33)

his treasure (Is. 33:6)

With it…. men depart from evil. (Prov. 16:6)

 But I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. (Jer. 32:40)

1Sa 12:24 Only fear Yehovah, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you.

Ecc 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.

Rev. 19:5  And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

Pro 1:23-33 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yehovah: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Conclusion

I want people to be set free from the power of the enemy. The enemy only has lies. The power of the enemy comes only from people believing those lies. The enemy is going to lose; it’s already been written! It is the same for all those who follow him. Those that follow him are those who believe his lies. Do you realize how much fear you have of these things? This is a good measuring stick to how much faith you have in God, and how much you believe the devil’s lies. Where your trust is, that’s where your faith is. Do you ever examine your words, actions, reactions to situations and trials? How you live your life on a daily basis shows your measure of faith in God or the devil.

Many people say they have faith in God, and will even call Him Lord.  

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matt. 7:21-23

They will say Lord, Lord and say they have good works.  He called them evildoers.  It says that by the fear of Yehovah, men depart from evil.  Clearly these people never had repentance and a fear of God.  He never knew them.  These were false converts, they never knew or feared him; yet they called Him Lord.

I encourage you to examine yourself (2 Cor. 13:5) and see if you have a fear of God.  Study the fear of God for yourself. Below are some other Scriptures that are related to this article, but please study your own as well.

Another post will be coming soon about how to recognize the fear of man in your life, and how to combat it with the Fear of God and God’s Word.

I encourage you to do your own further study on this subject.  I’d love to hear from you about what you’ve learned.

FURTHER STUDY ON THE FEAR OR GOD VS THE FEAR OF MAN

The Word has much more to say about the fear of God vs. the fear of man.  Below are some Scriptures for further study; including how the fear of God is everlasting, how the fear of God is a part of the Church today, and others.

Lk 1:50 And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Not only is the fear of God for the Believer on this earth, but for eternity.  

Psalms 19:9 Fear of Yehovah clean, enduring forever.

Faith Hope and Love and these three remain, but the greatest of these is love.  You cannot have truth faith, hope or love without the fear of God.  And therefore, we will fear God in heaven; always.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Jer 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken Yehovah thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith Yehovah GOD of hosts.

God says it is an evil thing that people do not fear Him.

Jer 5:21-31 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith Yehovah: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Yehovah our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these [things], and your sins have withholden good [things] from you. For among my people are found wicked [men]: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so [are] their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these [things]? saith Yehovah: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Rom 3:10-18 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips: Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet [are] swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery [are] in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Church

Act 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of Yehovah, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

1Pe 3:2, 15 While they behold your chaste conversation [coupled] with fear. … But sanctify Yehovah God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Phl 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear (of God) and trembling.

Fear of God through established authorities He has placed in the family, workplace, nation, and Church

Rom 13:7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

2Sa 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of God.

Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

God seeks people to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, so present your bodies as living sacrifices.  This is our worship to Him. We must have a fear of God to love and worship Him.

Rev 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Pro 28:14 Happy [is] the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Mal 1:6 A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I [be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a master, where [is] my fear? saith Yehovah of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

Jos 22:25 For Yehovah hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in Yehovah: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing Yehovah.

A father must always be protecting his family from ungodly influences that will remove from their hearts and their minds the fear of Yehovah.