There are some who wanting to emphasize God's grace, mercy and goodness, tell us that because of these wonderful attributes of God and because of the blood of Christ we are now free from a fear motivation for serving God. They want to emphasize that we are to serve God because of all His goodness and that fear of punishment is an improper motive for serving Him. Is this really what the Bible teaches?
It is true that we are taught to serve God and be obedient to Him because of all the goodness that He has granted to us (See James 1:17-18; John 3:16; 1 John 4:7-11). Because of all that God has done for us and given us, we should be willing and ready to listen to Him, obey Him and live for Him. Truly, when one considers all of God's goodness, it is ample motivation to serve Him always. However, we are taught that fear of God and His wrath are also reasons for serving Him. It is fear of his wrath as well as gratitude and love of His goodness that keeps us in His service. In Romans 11:20-22, we are told that God will cut off those who are disobedient. We are told to consider the goodness and severity of God. I am to serve God not only because I know of all the great things that He has blessed me with, but also because I know that I will receive punishment from Him if I am disobedient (See 2 Pet. 3:10-11).
Yes, fear of God and His punishment is a proper motive for obedience to Him. It was partly because of fear that the Ephesians repented (Acts 19:17-20). It is fear that helps us to continue in God's service and not fall short (Heb. 4:1; 1 Cor. 10:2). It is with fear that we conduct ourselves in this life and work out our salvation (1 Pet. 1:13-19; Phil. 2:12-13). The fear of God causes us to depart from evil and do good (Prov. 16:6). If I didn't believe that fear was a proper motive for obedience, I would quit preaching to men concerning God's coming judgment and the punishment that is going to come upon the wicked. After all, I don't want to improperly motivate men to serve God. Paul, however, recognized that God's wrath was one reason that men must turn to Him (2 Cor. 5:10-11). Let us learn to "fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt. 28:10).
Can one be free from the fear of God's punishment and the fear of His wrath? Certainly. How is his accomplished? It is not accomplished the way that many seem to think it is. Men have devised many doctrines and schemes to free man from this fear that are not supported by God's word. Some claim that if one only has faith in Christ Jesus then his salvation is secure regardless as to how he conducts himself here on earth. As one creed book puts it: "The doctrine of faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort." But can faith alone give us such "comfort?" When one "accepts Christ as his personal savior," does he at that point free himself from the fear of God's judgment regardless of what he does from then on? Many teach this. God's word, however, does not support it. Others claim that the life of Christ is substituted for our lives when we accept Christ. They claim we can be free from the punishment of God, because God will not look at our sinfulness, but at the righteousness of Christ. So the imputed righteousness of Christ is said to free us from fear. Again, there is no support from Scripture. There are still others who want to take away fear by claiming that one can be forgiven of sin without meeting God's requirements of confession and prayer. In summary, any system that offers forgiveness of sins without meeting God's conditions for forgiveness, also offers an escape from fear of God's punishment. But it offers a false escape.
How then can we be free from he fear of God's wrath? Only through one way -- total submission to God and His will (Matt. 7:21-23). We must do the things God requires of us, if we are going to be free from the fear of His condemnation. We can choose how we are going to live. If we live after our own fleshly desires we must be ready to accept the consequences. If, however, we choose to live in the way God's word directs us we can be free from the fear of punishment (See Rom. 8:12-17). Keeping God's word frees us from fear in the day of judgment (See 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:17-18). We can now have boldness in that day because of the great sacrifice of our Lord and because of our obedience to Him. The realization that we will suffer consequences for not continuing in our service to God can and should cause us to take greater care to follow God completely and not turn from our service to Him (See Heb. 10:26-29). If fear is one's only motivation in serving God, then something is wrong. But fear is a proper motive for obedience as well as love, gratitude, etc. (Heb. 12:28-29).
-- Edward O. Bragwell, Jr.