Biblical Answer

The fear of the Lord is a response of our entire being, and it is not limited to a feeling of reverence and awe. It is a response to a loving and compassionate God who has made it clear that He has noth- ing to fear from humanity (Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 6:3). As Christians, we are co-heirs with Christ and will judge the angels, so we have no reason to fear God. However, the Bible teaches that we should fear God, not because He is a tyrannical ruler, but because He is our loving and compassionate God who has power to cast into hell. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, and it is a response to God's holiness and authority.

The fear of the Lord is not the same as a cringing fear of God. It is not a fear that we will be damned, but a fear that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. Our fear is that the very things our Lord stood forlove, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among menwill not win out in the end and will represent a failure. This is a false cringing fear of God, and it is overcome by love for God. Godly fear reflects both a confidence in the saving grace of God and a solemn respect for God as judge.

In order to fear the Lord, we must know Him. We must know His character, His power, and His authority. We must know that He is a God who loves and cares for us, but also a God who has power to cast into hell. When we know God in this way, we will have a deep respect for Him and a solemn fear of His judgment. This fear will motivate us to live a life that reflects our love for Him and our desire to please Him. It will motivate us to serve Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to live a life that is pleasing to Him. In this way, the fear of the Lord will be a blessing to us, and we will experience the joy and peace that come from knowing and serving a loving and compassionate God. The fear of the Lord is not a negative emotion, but a positive one that motivates us to live a life that is pleasing to God. It is a response to God's holiness and authority, and it is a reflection of our love for Him. When we fear the Lord, we will be motivated to live a life that reflects our love for Him, and we will experience the joy and peace that come from knowing and serving a loving and compassionate God.