what is the meaning of the phrase "fear of god"?

Question

so i keep hearing this phrase "fear of god" or "fear in god". i'm not religious, so please, someone explain this. why would you want to fear who you worship? isn't fearing something bad?

Answer 1

I don't really know why people say to "fear" God. There's nothing to be afraid of really. But I think what they mean is to be respectful of your maker. Show respect and humbleness towards the one who created you. To fear is to admire and praise and to show reverance. Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Good question. We "fear" G-d because He is a consuming fire. You and I are sinners. He will burn you and I both to a crisp. He detests sin.

However, (this will make you 10x happier for Jesus) Jesus has made you righteous enough to stand before G-d and be judged and live. Only if you have accepted Jesus and invited Him into your heart and life, that is. You are covered by the perfect sacrifice. But take away Jesus for a second......wow, thats scarry. You are stanting in front of a fire as a sinner again. Fear G-d? Super happy for Jesus? Hope so.

So since you are so hopefully see the fear, then the love is easy. John 3:16 is why Jesus came. G-d created all...you love your family, right? Loving is easy. Fearing Him takes a bit of understanding. Thats how we fear, respect and love all at once.

Hope it makes sense, if not, email me!
Blessings
David

Answer 3

I don't like the phrase "fear of God" either and I think that it could be replaced with a phrase that is equivalent which is "love or respect" in this age when mankind is mature.

When you are a child you act more often out of fear but when grown up fear is replaced with understanding and love.

An example. Suppose you tell you kid to come home early because you know that if he gets home late there are many dangers that could await him.

As a child you would obey because of fear of punishment but as a grown up fear is replaced with respect for your father's wisdom and intelligence. Then you will try to please him because you know he is concerned for your well being.

Answer 4

This fear is not meant as fearing God in dread of what he could do to us, and should not be taken in this way it is actually a fear of not pleasing him which is a natural and healthy fear and it helps us to focus on doing God's will and in this way it is not a bad thing to fear God.

Answer 5

Yes, Linda G, they got over the Messiah, too! (Though He still loves them!)

And sweetiebean: As some have already said in this forum, the fear of God is a very healthy, heartfelt respect and reverence for who God is.

Answer 6

"Fear God" does not necessarily mean to sit trembling in a corner. For example:

Deuteronomy 6:24 NIV
The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.

The Hebrew word for "fear" in this verse is "yârê'", which morally means to "revere". God is One to be literally feared if one is not saved by Christ Jesus, though. However, though God can be feared, He is also to be feared in the sense of reverence. He is so holy, so mighty, that a reverence of Him is only fitting. If I say, "I fear God", or "I am a God-fearing man", then I might mean that, "I am reverent towards God". Sure He is my heavenly Father, He is my Savior, He is, my "Abba", or daddy, but at the same time I am to hold Him in the highest place of reverence. God bless!

Answer 7

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, What it means is if you do not have a relationship with Jesus you are going to hell. Disobeying Gods holy word is abomination to God. When you understand what Gods is capable of you start to realize what the fear of God really is, its not a fear like you fear the boogie man under your bed. Once you start your relationship with Jesus you will understand.
Fear God not man! AMEN

Answer 8

It doesn't mean something bad. It is just a figure of speech that means that god has the power to do anything he wants to do to you, such take you away from this world, so in other words people fear him because of that. But they love him because he also gives you many blessing and has mercy on you no matter of what your faults are or how many mistakes you make. All you have to do is ask for his forgiveness in Jesus' name.

Answer 9

How do you already know for particular that God does no longer exist? have you ever considered Pascal's wager? If the athiest is suited then as quickly as we are lifeless, we arejust lifeless, end of tale. The athiest would have lived his existence the terrific way he would desire to, and according to probability been a sturdy a sturdy individual according to probability no longer. comparable for the believer. yet whilst the Christian is suited, there's a God to be enjoyed and feared, if there's a Heaven to be gained and a Hell to be refrained from, whilst the athiest and Christian die, one is going to heaven and the different is going to Hell. Come now, says Blase Pascal, place your wager, for wager you will desire to. figuring out to no longer decide, you have already desperate, and quickly it is too overdue to alter you suggestions; too overdue to have faith in God. Genesis 6:3 Then the LORD stated, "My Spirit shall no longer attempt with guy perpetually, because of the fact he's likewise flesh; nevertheless his days would be one hundred and two decades."

Answer 10

God is a God of free will. To fear God is not to be controlled by him, but to be an awe of him. How many people do you know who would put their only son in the way of a bullet intended for, let's say Adolf Hitler, or Ossama Bin Laden, or Saddam. He gave Jesus for us who suffered MUCH MUCH worse than death by a bullet to save those who would have him tortured and crucified.(have you seen the Passion of the Christ??) To "fear" God is to acknowlege his love and passion for YOU.