Work Out Your Salvation With Fear And Trembling

We often preach of God’s Love, his mercy, his longsuffering because God is Love. If we want to go to Heaven, we must possess these qualities. Sometimes when we point out God’s commands for us and our failure to obey them and the punishment that awaits the disobedient we say wait! Let’s go back and talk about the loving God, the forgiving God, the merciful God, and let’s not talk about the God that demands obedience to his Word, which demands his commands be met. Many don’t want to hear about Hell and how it awaits those who are not obedient. Keep preaching on Heaven and its joys and beauties. In our lesson today, (1) I want to examine our fear of the Lord. (2) Why the fear is important to us. (3) How came can develop a healthy fear without going to one extreme or another.

Acts 9:31-NKJV-The Church Prospers

31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

As Luke writes to the early church, Saul had just been converted and how “they enjoyed a time of peace” but was the church growing because of the time of rest. They were growing because they “were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.”

Paul in writing to the church at Philippi Philippians 2:12-13-NKJV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Looking at the Word, Fear in these verses helps us to understand this meaning. The word fear is the Hebrew word yirah (year-uh), it is used to describe fear, terror, unawesome or terrifying things.

Fear of God involves respect, reverence. This is the fear we should talk about. This fear we should have is a fear or a reverence or awe, a respect for God. Matthew 10:28 NKJV

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

A proper fear of the Lord would then include: reverence and awe, being afraid to offend God in any way, a trembling that if one knows they have offended God they must obtain forgiveness.

The writer of Hebrews puts it like this

Hebrews 10:30-31-NKJV

30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Let’s examine the importance of fearing God. In the book of Proverbs we learn the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

Proverbs 1:7-NKJV

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Fearing the Lord will cause one to hate evil.

Proverbs 8:13-NKJV

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way

and the perverse mouth I hate.

Fearing the Lord will prolong life.

Proverbs 10:27-NKJV

27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.

The fear of the Lord provides strong confidence and is a foundation of life.

Proverbs 14:26-27-NKJV

26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

The fear of the Lord prompts one to depart from evil.

Proverbs 16:6-NKJV

6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

The fear of the Lord leads to a satisfying life and spares one from much evil.

Proverbs 19:23-NKJV

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;

He will not be visited with evil.

The fear of the Lord is the way to riches, honor and life.

Proverbs 22:4-NKJV

4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.

Without the fear of the Lord, we flirt with evil and temptations and can be corrupted by them. Without the fear of the Lord we will not come to know the love of God that gives us assurance and confidence of our salvation. When we fall into sin, we will not be motivated to repent and turn to God.