Q: I don’t understand why I should fear God, when I know He loves me more than anyone else ever could? He gives me everything I need. I am trying to learn more about the Bible, but I can’t find this explained anywhere in my books or the Bibles. Maybe you can explain it to me. I know God is the most powerful being and that what He says, He will do, but I’m not afraid of Him. Should I be?

A: The fear of God is an important part of the Christian life, but we think you misunderstand the terminology.

We like Chuck Swindles definition best: “To fear God means to take him seriously and do what He says.”

Fearing God has nothing to do with being afraid of God. The essence of God is love, not fear (1 John 4: 8-10, 18). The Bible always connects the fear of God with blessing. When we obey God and seek His will, we are doing what He says. You could say we are fearing God.

But always remember that love was what motivated God to save you, and the love of God will always be with you. But God is holy, and sin will always be an offence to Him. At the same time, His love isn’t based on what you do but on what Jesus already did for you by dying for your sins. That’s what John 3: 16 is all about.

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Relevant Scripture

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:8-10)

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Reference

Bible Answers 101 by Rickel & Jantz