the fear of God

I recently read an article, Should the Christian Live in Fear of God?, in which the author wrestled with the fear of God. He wrote,
“The Christian – who is justified by God’s grace in Jesus Christ though faith – should be at peace with God and not live in fear of him, correct?
This would seem to be logical consequence of a message like that of Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And yet, for confessional Christians who recite the Athanasian Creed once a year (as we did a few weeks ago), the end of this creed might, on occasion, cause one to doubt and wonder:
…At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
And here, as when reading passages like John 5:28 and 29 and Revelation 20:12, the doubts might encroach at a fast and furious pace! How can we not be terrified?
We need to recognize that while the Athanasian Creed is thoroughly biblical ... the end of the Athanasian Creed is the kind of message that a doubting Christian and/or terrified sinner does not need to hear!”

He twists and turns as he tries to explain this: Should we fear God? No. Yes. Sort of. But not really. What’s the problem? The Bible has come into conflict with his theology, and he doesn’t really know what to do.

Ah, the fear of God. This is a concept that runs throughout the Bible, yet it seems to be one of the most difficult for us to understand. In response I did a little study:

First, I gathered all the verses from both the Old and the New Testaments on the fear of God. This is a good study! The book of Proverbs is an especially rich source.
Second, I consulted a trusty commentator for insights. Just who is this commentator? Adam Clarke. He was a Methodist preacher, evangelist, commentator, and true scholar, but his views on this matter represent the classic Christian understanding of the fear of God.
Third, I randomly chose a few passages to present here. Well, not completely random. Since there are many who think the idea of the fear of God is an antiquated Old Testament concept, incompatible with the gospel, I selected all the references from the New Testament.
Here are my findings, with Clarke’s explanations of the fear of God:

Deuteronomy 6:2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
That thou mightest fear the Lord - Respect his sovereign authority as a lawgiver, and ever feel thyself bound to obey him. No man can walk either conscientiously or safely who has not the fear of God continually before his eyes. When this is gone, more than a guardian angel is fled.

Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
Now, Israel, what doth the Lord require of thee - An answer is immediately given. God requires, That ye fear him as Jehovah your God; him who made, preserves, and governs you...

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Fear the Lord - Reverence him as the sole object of your religious worship.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Jehovah. Wisdom itself begins with this fear; true wisdom has this for its commencement. It is the first ingredient in it, and is an essential part of it. In vain does any man pretend to be wise who does not fear the Lord; and he who fears the Lord departs from evil: he who lives in sin neither fears God, nor is wise.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of the Lord - In the preceding verses Solomon shows the advantage of acting according to the dictates of wisdom; in the following verses he shows the danger of acting contrary to them. The fear of the Lord signifies that religious reverence which every intelligent being owes to his Creator; and is often used to express the whole of religion, as we have frequently had occasion to remark in different places. But what is religion? The love of God, and the love of man; the former producing all obedience to the Divine will; the latter, every act of benevolence to one's fellows. The love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit produces the deepest religious reverence, genuine piety, and cheerful obedience. To love one's neighbor as himself is the second great commandment... Without love, there is no obedience; without reverence, there is neither caution, consistent conduct, nor perseverance in righteousness.
This fear or religious reverence is said to be the beginning of knowledge; the principle, the first moving influence, begotten in a tender conscience by the Spirit of God. No man can ever become truly wise, who does not begin with God, the fountain of knowledge; and he whose mind is influenced by the fear and love of God will learn more in a month than others will in a year.

Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Fear him - Even the friends of God are commanded to fear God, as a being who has authority to send both body and soul into hell. Therefore it is proper even for the most holy persons to maintain a fear of God, as the punisher of all unrighteousness. A man has but one life to lose, and one soul to save; and it is madness to sacrifice the salvation of the soul to the preservation of the life.

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Walking in the fear of the Lord - Keeping a continually tender conscience; abhorring all sin; having respect to every Divine precept; dreading to offend him from whom the soul has derived its being and its blessings. Without this salutary fear of God there never can be any circumspect walking. 

Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
There is no fear of God before their eyes - This completes their bad character; they are downright atheists, at least practically such. They fear not God's judgments, although his eye is upon them in their evil ways. 

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
In the fear of God - that we may dread his displeasure, and abhor whatever might excite it, and whatever might provoke him to withhold his manna from our mouth.

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
In the fear of God - Setting him always before your eyes, and considering that he has commanded you to love one another, and to bear each other's burdens; and that what you do in this or any other commanded case, you do as unto the Lord. 


So, Should the Christian Live in Fear of God? The answer is, Yes: Respect his sovereign authority and ever feel bound to obey him; Reverence him as the sole object of your religious worship; Dread his displeasure, and abhor whatever might excite it; Set him always before your eyes. Is this salvation by works? No, this is thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.