A Special Type of Fear
Fear is a powerful emotion. It can provoke, and it can paralyze. But the right fear can make you a friend of God. Most people fear something. Some fear heights, others fear wild animals, and others fear spiders or snakes or sharks. In Australia, where I live, you can experience all these fears, considering Australia is filled with all these things. Sometimes fear can be so overpowering it contGet More Articles—Subscribe Today!
New Digital & Archive Subscription Options!
Digital Subscriptions are only $9.99/year. Digital + Archive Subscriptions are only $19.99/year.
First-time digital subscriber? Get a FREE, one-year trial at foi.org/digital!
G’day Max, thank you for your question. Gods’ love casts out our natural human fear of threats to our safety, because we can trust God for His sovereign care and protection from harm, or His help through the difficulties resulting from those threats. God’s love also removes the fear of judgement because as His children we are no longer under condemnation. As I mentioned in the article, two types of fear exist and this verse addresses the natural human fear that paralyses or provokes action. It does not eliminate the fear of God, which is complementary to the love of God. Just as we love and fear good parents in our childhood, so we love and fear God, the best parent, as His children. I hope this helps in understanding how these work together in our relationship to God.
’Bonjour from ‘Paris’
I’m reading from France.
I really appreciated your presentation on fear and the need to fear God. However, the text of 1 John 4:18-19 has always left me wondering. How to understand this text in light of what you just said:
1 John 4:18-19 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, for fear involves punishment; he who fears is not perfect in love. We therefore love God, since God first loved us.” French LSG
Thank you for your enlightenment.
Max JOUAN