Fear and grace are not biblically opposing truths.
1. The true fear of God in our hearts causes us to respect and greatly honor the grace of God. The opposite is to despise the Spirit of grace.
2. The true fear of God has no conflict with the true grace of God.
3.The true fear of God in our hearts causes us to honor, respect, and seek the grace of God.
4. The true fear of God in our hearts helps us to not be light and flippant about the true grace of God.
5. The true fear of God in our hearts causes us to have a trembling hearts towards the holiness of God.
Isaiah 66:2: “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.”
6. The true fear of God in our hearts greatly assists in our repentance and godly sorrow over our sins.
7. The true fear of God in our hearts causes us to draw near to God in an appropriate way, e.g. through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:19 says: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” Read also 2 Samuel 6:9.
8. The true fear of God in our hearts causes us to praise and worship the holiness of God.
Exodus 15:11: “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” The Hebrew word for “fearful” is “yare” meaning “to fear, to reverence, to frighten, dreadful, terrible, fearful.”
9. The true fear of God in our hearts helps us to enter His rest which we know is only found in Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 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.”
10. The true fear of God in our hearts causes us to have all our needs met.
Psalm 34:9: “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.”
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell