A: The fear of The LORD.
This answers the question why believers would persist in wickedness and evil. They do not fear God.
body and soul (Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:5). In Acts we learn that “the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied” (Acts 9:31). When preaching to the Gentiles Peter says “I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35). For the Apostle Paul, both Jews and Gentiles stand condemned before God, as sinners who do not fear God (Rom. 3:18, quoting Ps. 36:1), and the foundation of his ministry is fear of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:11).
In the later New Testament letters, fear of the Lord clearly becomes fear of Christ (Col. 3:22-24) and is the basis of Christian behavior (Eph. 5:21). In 1 Peter 3:14–15 the apostle alludes to Isaiah 8:13-14: ‘But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy.” Peter here identifies the Yahweh, the Lord of hosts, with Jesus Christ! The command given to Israel in Isaiah’s day is the same command given to the church today, but the person we fear is more clearly revealed to be the Lord Jesus Christ, who is one with the Father.
The Joy of Fearing the Lord
Understood biblically, then, the way we fear the Lord is by believing in Jesus Christ, acknowledging him as God, joyfully obeying him, and trusting him with our lives completely.
When we treat God as unimportant, indifferent, and helpless, or when we only pay attention to God on Sunday mornings, in some ritualistic manner, and disregard him the rest of the week, we will be prey to every new fear that comes along in life. But when our delight is in fearing the Lord, we will be controlled by an unspeakable and glorious joy. Why? Because when we fear the Lord, there is nothing else to fear! When we acknowledge God for who he is and regard him as holy, and when we trust his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we can face whatever the future holds with our heads held high. We will find ourselves characterized by a confidence a peace that isn’t controlled by circumstances. This is the secret to peace and joy and security in a world filled with worry.
As we seek to continuously be filled with The Spirit, may we find the fear of The Lord becoming our supreme desire and delight in life, Amen.