LORD’S DAY, FEBRUARY 24
Exodus 20:18-26
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

“The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge …”

SHOULD BELIEVERS FEAR GOD?

When the people saw and heard the thunderings, lightnings, loud trumpets, the ground quaking, and the mountain billowing smoke, they moved backwards and stayed there. They told Moses they would rather hear from Moses than have God speak with them directly lest they die. They were then told specifically how to approach God.

Here in Exodus 20:20, Moses responded to the people’s fear: “Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” Should Christians fear God or not fear God? Some like to quote 1 John 4:18 (“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”) to teach that Christians should not fear God. Yet Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” This may confuse some. Wrong understanding leads to wrong living. Some Christians think that there is no need to fear God at all since our past, present and future sins are forgiven, and if we sin, we have an advocate and mediator in Christ. So the believer need not have any fear even when he lies, steals, or commits fornication because God has “already factored forgiveness in our future sins too.” This is part of the false gospel. Moses was telling them not to have a mere servile fear of God. But he told them that God intended “that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” They needed not fear God as if He was out to kill them. But yet they indeed were to fear sinning against Him. The true believer need not fear eternal judgment in the lake of fire. But as true believers we must have a reverential fear of not displeasing God who has delivered and saved us. Moreover, in this scene, God reminded the people He was a holy God and they should fear sinning against Him for He would chastise sin in this covenant. 1 John 4:18 teaches God’s genuinely saved ones that if we love God by reverence and obedience, and we love the brethren, then we need not have fear of eternal judgment nor chastisements.

THOUGHT: (Read Ecclesiastes 12:13.)
PRAYER: LORD, teach me to fear Thee aright.