0:00 Intro 2:41 The Fear Due to God’s Name (Psalm 90)
4:37 Perfect Love Casts Out Fear (1 John 4)
7:40 Fatherly Discipline vs. Judge’s Wrath
9:41 Overcoming the Fear of Man
11:30 The Warning of Hebrews 10
12:23 How True Believers Respond to Warnings
16:07 "Partial Apostasies" & Our Need for Grace
19:46 What If I Live in Constant Dread of Judgment?
23:44 Why the Bible Uses the Word "Fear"
The Fear of God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0pl1VvVsrw
Free From The Fear of Men: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4rd-BQ3cjw
The Messenger, Message, and Motive of the Book of Galatians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P7GZI_wK-E
Is God angry with me? Should Christians fear God in a way that causes them to tremble with terror? What does it mean to fear God if we are also told that God is love? Does the Bible contradict itself when it speaks of the terror of the Lord and yet commands us to have confidence in the day of judgment? Many believers struggle with these questions, wondering, "Am I really saved if I still feel afraid of God's wrath?" This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, host Dr. Josh Philpot and Dr. Richard Caldwell discuss the complex and often misunderstood biblical theme of the fear of the Lord. They explore the distinctions between the terror of God's judgment, the reverence due to His name, and the freedom from the fear of man that comes from rightly fearing God.
Dr. Caldwell begins by examining the fear that God is due simply because of who He is. Looking at Psalm 90, the discussion centers on God’s power, anger, and holiness. The Psalmist asks, "Who understands the power of Your anger?" The reality is that no human being fully comprehends the magnitude of God’s holiness or the severity of His wrath against sin. In this sense, a fear of God is absolutely appropriate. To meet with the omnipotent Creator in judgment without a mediator is a terrifying prospect, and the fear of punishment is a natural response to the knowledge of one's own sinfulness against a holy God. This biblical fear acknowledges that God is the ultimate judge and that His fury against iniquity is real and consuming. However, Dr. Caldwell clarifies that while this knowledge of God’s holiness is essential, the believer’s relationship to that wrath changes completely through Jesus Christ.
This leads to the question: Should Christians be terrified of God? Dr. Caldwell points us to 1 John 4:18, which states that perfect love casts out fear. This passage is not suggesting that we lose our reverence for God, but rather that the cowering, tormenting fear of punishment is removed for those who are in Christ. What does it mean to fear God as a Christian? It means we possess a deep, abiding respect and awe for our Father, similar to the respect a son has for a loving but firm father, but we no longer live in dread of the Great White Throne judgment. We have assurance of salvation because our sins were judged at the cross. Therefore, the judgment day for Christians is not a day of condemnation but a day of evaluation at the judgment seat of Christ for rewards. As believers mature in their faith, they grow in their understanding of God's perfect love. They realize that they are accepted in the Beloved, and this knowledge drives out the anxiety of wondering, "Is God angry with me?"
However, the Scriptures also contain severe warnings. Dr. Philpot brings up the Hebrews 10 warning, which speaks of a fearful expectation of judgment for those who go on sinning deliberately. How do we reconcile assurance with these terrifying passages? Dr. Caldwell explains that these warnings are God's means of keeping His true children on the narrow path. A genuine believer hears the warnings of Scripture and heeds them. The fear of the Lord meaning in this context is a healthy caution that keeps us from apostasy. If someone claims to be a Christian but tramples the Son of God underfoot by living in unrepentant sin, they have every reason to fear. But for the true sheep who hear the Shepherd's voice, these warnings serve to drive them back to Christ, deepening their dependence on His grace.
Finally, the episode addresses the practical conflict of fear of God vs fear of man. Dr. Caldwell argues that when we rightly fear God, we are liberated from the crippling need to please people. If we are secure in the love of the Sovereign God, who can truly harm us? The fear of man lays a snare, but trusting in the Lord brings safety. When our singular ambition is to please the One who saved us, life becomes wonderfully simple. We do not have to navigate the complex and changing opinions of the world; we simply obey God’s Word.
Throughout this fear of God sermon, Dr. Caldwell and Dr. Philpot provide a balanced, scriptural perspective that avoids the extremes of irreverence and paralyzing terror. They show us that God’s holiness is infinite and His warnings are serious, yet for the believer, His love is a fortress.