Godly Fear

Regularly I hear Christians downplay God's righteous judgement.

Perhaps they're responding to times past when God's wrath was overemphasized, but we can also under-emphasize it.

These three aspects of God's character should instill godly fear* in us: 

1. His Holiness 
God is not flawed in any way. He doesn't make mistakes. Everything He does is pure, good and right (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

• He hates sin (Psalm 7:11; Romans 1:18-19) 
• He will punish the unrepentant (Romans 2:5-11) 

2. His Authority 
No one tells God what to do. Nothing is beyond His jurisdiction.

• He alone has the power of life and death (Deuteronomy 32:39) 
• He alone has the ability to save and destroy (John 14:6, Acts 4:12; Luke 12:4-5)

3. His Wisdom 
God is all-knowing and all-wise (Isaiah 40:12-31).

• He defines right from wrong (Isaiah 33:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
• He always knows what's best for us (Psalm 139).

* To read more about the fear of God (i.e. the right kind of fear), check out No Fear.

Bible Study 

Today's study is a bit different than other Bite Size Studies. Below are 5 Scripture passages that tell us how we will respond if we genuinely fear the Lord. I've given you space to fill in the blanks. The answers appear in this Bible Love Note: 5 Characteristics of God-Fearers. 

If we have a healthy fear of God:

1. We'll                                                                         .
Philippians 2:12-13: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

2. We'll                                                                       .
Isaiah 66:2b: "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word..."

3. We'll                                                                       .
Proverbs 3:5-7: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.  

4. We'll                                                                       .
2 Corinthians 5:11a Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.

5. We'll                                                                       .
Proverbs 8:13: To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

BiteSizeBibleStudy.comcopyright 2016, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com