The Fear of God

The Fear of God

Introduction
“Do not fear those who kill the body… but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Godly fear is essential, shaping our hearts, choices, and hope.

What Jesus Commands About Fear
Jesus teaches true fear: fear God. This is not dread without hope. It is sober recognition of His holy power and final judgment (Matthew 10:28). Such fear corrects our vision in a careless age and anchors obedience.

What Godly Fear Looks Like
The psalmist shows the inner posture: “My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments” (Psalm 119:120). Reverence includes trembling—a heart awake to God’s majesty and justice.

A Warning from Moses: Do Not Forget the LORD
Israel was warned never to forget the God who saved them. Surrounded by blessings, they were commanded to fear, serve, and swear by His name, refusing every rival god (Deuteronomy 6:10–15). Forgetting fear leads to forgetting God.

Fear in the Life of the Church
Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit brought immediate judgment, and “great fear came upon all the church” (Acts 5:1–11). Public rebuke of sin aims to produce fear so the whole congregation learns reverence (1 Timothy 5:19–20).

Those Who Fear His Name Are Rewarded
Heaven praises the Lord who reigns and judges, rewarding “those who fear Your name, small and great” (Revelation 11:15–18). Godly fear marks the people He honors.

What a Lack of Fear Produces
Where there is no fear of God, sin flourishes: deceit, cursing, violence, and restless misery (Romans 3:9–18). In perilous times, people love self and pleasure, despise good, and retain a hollow form of religion (2 Timothy 3:1–5). Absence of fear unravels moral life.

What Proper Fear Produces
“By the fear of the LORD one departs from evil” (Proverbs 16:6). “The fear of the LORD is clean” (Psalm 19:9), producing purity. Fear motivates separation from darkness and growth in holiness: “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Fear That Fuels Evangelism
“All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Knowing “the terror of the Lord,” we persuade people (2 Corinthians 5:11). Fear makes us truthful, urgent, and loving in our teaching.

The Whole Duty of Man
“Fear God and keep His commandments… this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Reverence and obedience belong together.

Serving with Reverence and Godly Fear
We receive an unshakable kingdom; therefore we serve “with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:25–29). God’s voice will shake heaven and earth. Live accordingly.

Entering the Kingdom
Entrance into the kingdom is by new birth “of water and the Spirit” (John 3:3–5). We “put on Christ” in baptism (Galatians 3:26–27). Godly fear tells the truth about salvation and invites all to come.

The Fear of God Sermon Outline:

• Text and Theme

  • Primary Text: Matthew 10:28

  • Theme: What Scripture means by fearing God—reverence, trembling, holiness, and persuasive evangelism.

   

• I. Jesus Defines True Fear (Matthew 10:28)

  • Fear God who has eternal authority.

  • Fear orders priorities and produces obedience.

   

• II. The Texture of Holy Fear (Psalm 119:120)

  • Trembling before His judgments.

  • A heart sensitized to holiness and sin.

   

• III. Covenant Warning Against Forgetfulness (Deuteronomy 6:10–15)

  • Blessings demand gratitude and vigilance.

  • Fear, serve, and swear by His name; reject idols.

   

• IV. Fear in the Church’s Integrity (Acts 5:1–11; 1 Timothy 5:19–20)

  • God’s immediate judgment produced great fear.

  • Public rebuke cultivates congregational reverence.

   

• V. Heaven Commends Those Who Fear His Name (Revelation 11:15–18)

  • God reigns, judges, and rewards those who fear Him.

  • Fear marks the faithful, “small and great.”

   

• VI. The Ruin of Godlessness (Romans 3:9–18; 2 Timothy 3:1–5)

  • No fear → deceit, violence, and moral collapse.

  • Last-days portrait: self-love, pleasure-love, powerless religion.

   

• VII. The Fruit of Godly Fear (Proverbs 16:6; Psalm 19:9; 2 Corinthians 7:1)

  • Fear turns from evil, cleanses the heart, perfects holiness.

  • Separation from darkness becomes a joyful calling.

   

• VIII. Evangelistic Urgency (2 Corinthians 5:10–11)

  • Judgment for all compels persuasion.

  • Speak truth plainly about sin, grace, and salvation.

   

• IX. Life’s Conclusion (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

  • The whole of man: fear God, keep His commandments.

  • Duty and delight converge in reverent obedience.

   

• X. Serving in an Unshakable Kingdom (Hebrews 12:25–29)

  • Hear the heavenly voice; worship with reverence and fear.

  • Our God is a consuming fire—live steadfastly.

   

• XI. Entering the Kingdom (John 3:3–5; Galatians 3:26–27)

  • New birth of water and Spirit.

  • Baptized into Christ to walk in newness of life.

   

Call to Action
Let the fear of the Lord re-shape your life today. Turn from what defiles, pursue holiness, and obey the gospel. If you have not entered the kingdom by being born of water and the Spirit, come to Christ in baptism. If sin has dulled your reverence, confess and return to wholehearted obedience.

Key Takeaways

• Fear God first; this orders every decision (Matthew 10:28).

• Godly fear includes trembling before His judgments (Psalm 119:120).

• Forgetting fear leads to forgetting God (Deuteronomy 6:10–15).

• Great fear purifies the church’s witness (Acts 5:1–11; 1 Timothy 5:19–20).

• Those who fear His name are rewarded (Revelation 11:15–18).

• No fear breeds moral collapse (Romans 3:9–18; 2 Timothy 3:1–5).

• Fear turns from evil and perfects holiness (Proverbs 16:6; 2 Corinthians 7:1).

• Judgment compels us to persuade (2 Corinthians 5:10–11).

• Life’s whole duty: fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

• Serve with reverence in an unshakable kingdom (Hebrews 12:25–29).

• Enter the kingdom through new birth and baptism into Christ (John 3:3–5; Galatians 3:26–27).

Scripture Reference List

• Matthew 10:28 — Jesus commands true fear of God.

• Psalm 119:120 — Trembling before God’s judgments.

• Deuteronomy 6:10–15 — Warning to fear, serve, and remember the LORD.

• Genesis 3:8–10 — Adam and Eve hide in fear after sin.

• Acts 5:1–11 — Ananias and Sapphira; great fear upon the church.

• 1 Timothy 5:19–20 — Public rebuke so “the rest also may fear.”

• Revelation 11:15–18 — Reward for those who fear His name.

• Romans 3:9–18 — Catalogue of sins rooted in “no fear of God.”

• 2 Timothy 3:1–5 — Last-days portrait of godlessness.

• Proverbs 16:6 — By fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

• Psalm 19:9 — Fear of the LORD is clean.

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 — Perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

• 2 Corinthians 5:10–11 — Judgment seat and persuading men.

• Ecclesiastes 12:13 — The whole of man: fear and obedience.

• Hebrews 12:25–29 — Serve with reverence and godly fear.

• John 3:3–5 — New birth of water and Spirit.

• Galatians 3:26–27 — Baptized into Christ.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO