DOCTRINE OF FEAR
May, 1981
  1. Fear as a mental attitude sin, Ps.4:4 (context) "Stand in awe and sin not."
    1. It is a characteristic of spiritual death, Gen.3:7,10; cp. Heb.2:14,15; 10:27,31; Rev.21:8.
    2. It is a sign of national and personal reversionism, 1Sam.17:11,24; 18:12,29; 21:12; 28:20; cp. Mt.8:26.
    3. It is not to be a part of the mental attitude of the believer, Gen.15:1; Ex.14:13,14; Deut.31:8; Isa.41:10; and is a symptom of maladjustment.
  2. Things the believer is not to fear.
    1. Living grace provision, Mt.10:31.
    2. Persecution, Mt.10:26,28; Lk.12:5,7,32; Heb.13:6; Rev.2:10.
    3. Intimidation of human viewpoint, Gal.2:12 (Peter's legalism); Phil.1:14.
    4. Sudden danger, Prov.3:25,26.
    5. War, depression, verbal maligning, Job.5:17-24; Lk.21:9; Ps.27:3.
    6. Death, Ps.23:4.
    7. Evil tidings, Ps.112:1ff; cp. 7,8 (counterattack of evil against the mature believer).
  3. The expression "fear of the Lord" is a synonym for:
    1. Positive volition at God consciousness and gospel hearing, Act.10:35.
    2. Positive volition at gnosis, Prov.1:7,29; 9:1; 15:33.
    3. Positive volition at the point of application of Bible Doctrine, Ps.112:1; cp. 4,5,9; 116:63; Heb.11:7.
    4. Occupation with Christ, Ps.119:38; 34:11.
  4. Characteristics of the "fear of the Lord" (or how can you evaluate yourself or others despite the rhetoric).
    1. "Clean", Ps.19:9 (versus false forms of honoring God: emotions, ritual w/o reality, etc.).
    2. Appreciation of the Doctrine of the Importance of Doctrine, Job.28:28; Ps.111:10; Prov.9:10.
    3. Teachability, Prov.1:7,29ff; 15:33.
    4. Strong confidence, Prov.14:26.
    5. Separation from, and hate for, evil, Prov.3:7; 8:13.
    6. Do not envy the reversionist, Prov.23:17ff.
    7. Contentment, Prov.15:16; 16:6.
  5. Blessings associated with the fear of the Lord, Ps.115:13.
    1. Prolonged life, Prov.10:27; 14;27.
    2. Details, Prov.22:4; Ps.112:1ff.
    3. Deliverance, Ps.34:47; 25:1215; 33:1822; 34:7.
    4. Every legitimate desire, Ps.145:19.
    5. Bible Doctrine, Ps.25:12,14.
  6. Occupation with Christ neutralizes fear, while false doctrine enslaves to fear.
    1. Ps.56:3 "What time I am afraid I will put my trust in you"; Ps.56:11.
    2. 1Jn.4:18 (the context is vs.17) "There is no fear in love (occupation with Christ) but perfect love (maturity) casts out fear because fear involves punishment (loss of reward in Phase 3) and the one who fears is not perfected in love (he fears loss of reward in Phase 3)."
    3. Gal. 5:1; cp. Rom. 8:15 (legalism); 2Tim. 1:7 (the soul with doctrine is not characterized by fear).
  7. Faith-Rest is the answer to fear, Ps.27:1; 56:3; Isa.41:10,13.
  8. Legitimate or sanctified objects of fear.
    1. God, Eccl.12:13,14.
    2. Authorities, Prov.24:21; 1Pet.2:17,18.
    3. Failure to reach Phase 2 sanctification, Phil.2:12; Heb.4:1.
Reviewed: May 1983
Reviewed: September 1988
© Copyright 1998, Maranatha Church, Inc.