My friend David and I spent considerable time discussing this one morning: Given that 1 John 4 says that there is no fear in love, because fear has to do with punishment, and there is now “no condemnation to those who are in Christ” (Rom 8:1), is it appropriate for the believer to have a “fear of God”, or is that strictly an Old Testament concept?

I’ve done considerable reading in some of the resources since that conversation, and I think that it is, depending on how you interpret “fear of God”. The “fear” referred to in 1 John 4 is the “sinful” (Reeves) or “servile” (Fox) fear that drives one away from God. But numerous authors contrast that with a “fear” that causes one to lean into, or toward, God, and is even referred to by some as a “gift of grace”. And some would even say that it is not possible to separate the love for God from this “filial” fear of God.

In addition, Fox ¹ lists several new testament passages that refer to the fear of the Lord in the life of the church or the believer (Matt 10:28, Acts 9:31, Luke 1:49–50, 2 Cor. 7:1, Rev 15:4).

In his sermon, “A Fear To Be Desired”, Charles Spurgeon says “I intend only to call your attention to this expression, “They shall fear the Lord and his goodness;” for what Israel will do, in a state of grace, is precisely what all spiritual Israelites do when the grace of God rests upon them. The fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, fills the heart…” So he is saying the fear of the Lord is a grace that fills the heart of “all spiritual Israelites” (i.e. all believers).

Bunyan, in his book “A Treatise on the Fear of God”, says that such fear is a “gift of grace”, and, indeed, goes on to spend close to half the book drawing out the implications of that conclusion.

But this leads me to a question that, at this point, I don’t have an answer to: I this fear of God is a gift, what do we do if we don’t have it (but want it)? Reeves and Bunyan both spend considerable time on “How to Grow the Fear of God.” But if it’s a gift, is that even possible.

One thing that has been said is that your Fear (awe, respect, reverence) for God will grow as you get to know him better. Books such as J. I.Packer’s Knowing God, or Arthur W. Pink The Attributes of God might help. I have both in my library, and intend to read them before the completion of this project.

But is that begging the question? Can you learn yourself into fearing God, it that fear is a gift of grace?