Fear Of God Is The Soul Of Godliness

One of my professors in Westminster Theological Seminary was John Murray, a Scotsman. He said, “The fear of God is the soul of godliness.”[1] In his hymn “Amazing Grace!” John Newton wrote, “’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” We do not fear anything but the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 

Introduction

The God of the Bible is the only true God. This God is infinite, eternal, holy, and triune (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit). He is all-knowing, almighty, everywhere present, Creator, Sustainer. He is the Savior and the Judge. Jesus is God-man. He never sinned. He is a consuming fire. “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10).

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God” (Ps. 14:1). Professor Cornelius van Til in his book, Defense of the Faith, says that in the name of science, people presuppose chance, but we presuppose God triune in all our thinking, in all our worship, and in all our work.[2] To know this God is to fear him and obey him immediately, exactly, and joyfully. This is godliness. Let us then consider examples of those who did not fear God, and of those who did.

I. Nadab and Abihu Did Not Fear God

Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron the priest, did not fear God, and God killed them. They worshiped God while drunk, we are told. Friend, our “God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). That is why we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).

In Deuteronomy 4:24 we read, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” In Leviticus 10:1–2, 8–9 we read, “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. . . . Then the Lord said to Aaron, ‘You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die.’”

Though these were children of Aaron the priest, they treated God with disrespect. They worshiped God without fear and trembling, and God dealt with them most seriously. It is not a joke to come to church. He will kill you. “This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.”

II. Ananias and Sapphira Did Not Fear God

Ananias and Sapphira did not fear God, and God killed them. In Acts 5:1–11 we read, “Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? . . . You have not lied to men but to God.’ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. . . . About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, ‘Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?’ ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘that is the price.’ Peter said to her, ‘How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.’ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.”

The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth. There is no lie in him. Let me warn you: Do not lie to the pastor. Tell the truth, and in this church, we preach God who forgives our sins.

III. Great Fear Came upon the Church

In Acts 5:5, 11 we read that great fear gripped the church: “When Ananias heard [Peter’s words], he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. . . . Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”

The fear of God keeps us from sinning. Why do we sin? We have no fear of God. Most people only want to make money, thinking that money means greater blessing. I do not believe that is true.

It is the fear of God that keeps us from sinning. But I tell you good news: Repent, and God will forgive you. Then prove your repentance by your deeds (Acts 26:20).

In the book of Numbers, the Israelites counted the fighting men. At the beginning of the exodus, they numbered 603,550 (Num. 2:32). God delivered all of these people from Egypt and enabled them to cross the Red Sea. But God killed 603,548 of them (Num. 26:65); only Caleb and Joshua were spared. Why did all the others die? They did not fear God. Thus, they did not enter the Promised Land. They died in the desert because of their sin. These people majored in murmuring. We ourselves murmur when we think that God is not doing our will.

IV. Adam and Eve Did Not Fear God

Adam and Eve did not fear God, so they did not obey God, and they died. In Genesis 2:15–17 we read, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’” Then the devil came and said to them, “God is jealous. You go ahead and eat. You will not surely die. He does not want you to be like God knowing good and evil.” And they ate and died. They died as God had said.

God cannot lie. He is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). In Titus 1:2 Paul says that God cannot lie.

But the devil lies. In John 8:44 Jesus said, in essence, “Your father is the devil, and he is a murderer from the beginning. He is a liar and the father of all lies.” So be careful when you speak to your parents. Don’t lie. Be careful when you speak to a pastor. Tell him the truth.  (PGM) Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

V. Abraham Feared God

Abraham feared God and obeyed him when tested. In Genesis 22:1–2 we read, “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah,’” where Christ was later crucified for our sins. “‘Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

Abraham believed that God would perform a miracle. He reasoned that out of the ashes, God would be able to raise up his son because through him would come Jesus the Messiah.

So in Genesis 22:12 we read, “‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ [the angel of the Lord] said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’” But another son was not spared: God’s Son, whose name was Jesus. He later was crucified and died for our sins. We sinned, but he died.

In Genesis 22:18 the Lord told Abraham, “Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” Who is the offspring? Jesus the Messiah. What was the reason God gave to Abraham? “because you have obeyed me.”

To fear God means to obey God—immediately, exactly, and joyfully. In Hebrews 11:19 we read that when he was tested, “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.” True Christians presuppose the triune God. Read Genesis 1:1. No scientist can explain this statement: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Scientists believe in chance and evolutionary hypothesis. To fear God means to obey God. May God help us to fear and obey God!

VI. Jesus Feared God

Jesus feared God and obeyed him perfectly. Isaiah 11:1–3a begins, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Who is this speaking about? Jesus the Messiah. The prophet continues, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him.” What we need is baptism in the Holy Spirit—the Spirit who gives wisdom, the Spirit who gives understanding, the Spirit who gives counsel, and the Spirit who gives power, as Jesus promised in Acts 1:8: “Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

He is also the Spirit who gives knowledge and fear of the Lord (Isa. 1:2). If you do not fear God, tell him: “I want fear of God. Please grant it to me,” and he will do so. And, finally, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, delighted in the fear of the Lord (Isa. 11:3a). The fear of the Lord was his perfect happiness, his perfect joy.

Jesus always sought to do God’s will. In Luke 22:39–46 we read, “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Later Peter did fall into temptation. He denied Christ three times. But God forgave him.

We sinned, but Jesus died. The wages of sin is death eternal, but the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6:23). Thank God! He was crucified for all our sins. This is the meaning of justification. He forgives all our sins.

In 2 Corinthians 5:19–21 we read, “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him [that is, Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” We are clothed with the perfect righteousness of Christ. This is called double transaction. We gave him all our sins, all our guilt, all our punishment, all our hell, and he gave us the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 Paul writes, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” I do not trust in myself. I trust in Christ. He is my righteousness, he is my holiness, he is my redemption. Paul continues, “Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’” I do not boast in myself; I boast in the Lord. I do not understand election, but I believe it. I do not understand why God chose me. It was a miracle. I was a sinner just like anybody else. But he chose me. In Romans 8:28–30, the first step is election—God’s people are foreloved in eternity past. I do not understand it, but I believe it.

VII. Final Destiny of All

In Matthew 25:46 we read, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” All people go either to eternal punishment or eternal life. Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone else.

In Luke 16, we read about a rich man, who was dressed in purple. Lydia was a seller of purple, a very rich person. Eventually, the rich man died and went to hell, but the poor Lazarus went to heaven.

Have you trusted in Jesus? That is the question. I don’t worry about how much money you have or how many degrees you have. The question is, have you trusted in Jesus. 

Conclusion

In Acts 16:30–31 we read that the Philippian jailer brought Paul and Silas out in the middle of the night and asked them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” That is the first and last question. “What must I do to be saved?” And they replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” We recently read that the prostitute of Jericho trusted in Christ, and she also wanted her household to be saved.

In Deuteronomy 30:19–20 we read, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life [that is, eternal life], so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years,” as well as eternal life.

In Philippians 2:12–13 we read, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to do according to his good purpose.”

There is no other Savior but Jesus. You are free to believe in whatever you want, but I am saying there is only one Savior: Jesus Christ. There is no other Savior but Jesus, the God-man. “His name is Jesus, for he shall save his [elect] people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). In Acts 4:12 we read, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Jesus never sinned. A sinner cannot save us. And Jesus is not only not a sinner, but he is also the eternal Son of God. He became man and never sinned. Perfect obedience.

Preaching the word of God is the first mark of the church which Christ builds. And in the preaching, we lift Jesus high as God-man, as perfect in his obedience, as the one who died for our sins and rose from the dead. Why did he rise from the dead? Because he never sinned. He is the Savior. There is no other Savior. May God help us to trust in him and be saved.

[1] John Murray, “The Fear of God,” Principles of Conduct (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957; 1974 reprint), 229.

[2] Cornelius van Til, Defense of the Faith.