Earlier, I had noted that the fear of God is not an Old Testament deal. It is meant to characterize us in the New Covenant. But I didn’t get into the source of true fear, which is the gospel. Some of you might be scratching your head in confusion. Some might be yelling at the screen in anger, debating with me. Hold on a moment and let me explain.
Let’s start with a definition of the fear of God. It is not, as many godly men have said, slavish fear. It is not the fear of punishment and displeasure that drives people away. When my son is guilty, he often wants to run and hide (usually covering his bottom just in case). This is not the fear that is given to us in the gospel. This the fear that perfect love casts out (1 John 4:18).
“The goodness as well as the greatness of God begets in the heart of His elect an awful reverence of His majesty. … Godly fear flows from a sense of the love and kindness of God to the soul.” John Bunyan
The fear I’m talking about is often called filial fear, or the fear of a son. It is like a stew comprised of love, trust, awe, reverence and delight. In various places obedience is attributed to love (John 14) and faith (Hebrews 11). In my text this Sunday it is the fear of God. Godly fear includes that love and faith or trust which are necessary for any true, God-honoring & God-pleasing obedience. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 10), so true fear must include faith. But the idea of awe and reverence point us to delight.
A son holds his father (typically speaking) in awe. He loves him, trusts him and wants to be like him. He does not speak to his father like he’s a friend, even though he is able to snuggle on his lap and be delighted in. A son delights in his father. This is the picture we should have of godly fear.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86
Where does this godly fear come from? The Psalmist knew that it came from God himself. He prayed for it. The divided heart does not fear God. It delights in many things. It has many idols, or misplaced delight (love, fear, trust etc.). Both the undivided heart, and gospel fear (as Burroughs called it) come from God.
40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. Jeremiah 32
One of the blessings of the promised (re)new(ed) covenant is this gospel fear. See, I’m not making this up. On the basis of Christ’s work for us we are justified and adopted. He then works in us (sanctification), including creating and increasing the fear of Him. This is not a fear that turns from God but to God. Satan-inspired slavish fear turns away anticipating punishment and rejection. The divided heart turns away seeking delight elsewhere.
We see the connection with the gospel in the reality of the indwelling Spirit as well. This Spirit, as John Murray notes, is the Spirit of the fear of the Lord (Is. 11) which empowered Messiah. He puts that same spirit in us so we too will walk in the fear of the Lord. The indwelling Spirit is one of the gifts of the gospel.
“Godly fear flows from a sense of hope of mercy from God by Jesus Christ.” John Bunyan
It is also produced in us as we contemplate the Gospel (I’m changing my estimation of that Bunyan book, and noticing all these guys’ names start with ‘J’). We deepen in our understanding and appreciation of God’s love. We grow in love for Him. We grow increasingly amazed by Him (we grow in awe). We also grow in our trust as we see His incredible commitment to us revealed in the fact that He didn’t spare His Son (Rom. 8). The ‘stew” of gospel fear grow in us. This means we progressively grow in our worship and obedience. The gospel produces gospel fear which produces gospel worship and obedience.
“We need to grow in fearing God amid the duties and pressures of daily life.” Jerry Bridges
Bridges is right. This is not something for Sunday morning (alone). But it grows amid daily life (not some mountain top experience). It is meant to shape how we go about daily life and cope with its pressures. It will restrain our sin and promote our obedience. This is why the fear of God is so important to healthy Christian living. This is why we need to grow in gospel fear.
Cavman Considers 
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