Proverbs 19.23

Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. [Proverbs 19.23]

What does "Fear of the LORD" really mean?

I know what I have been taught all my life - that fear of the LORD means to respect Him, but not be afraid of Him.

 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [Matthew 10.28]

You see, Jesus (quoted in the verse above) did not share the opinion about the "respect" explanation of fearing God. Jesus was very clear that God is to be feared. In other words, a smart person is afraid of God.

A smart person understands Who God Is. Not only does a smart person remain aware that God is Love, but that smart person remains constantly mindful that God is Just.

God was very clear from the beginning that sin leads to all manner of punishment and death. Punishment and death are, by nature, deterrents from sin. By this design, the discomfort and pain of punishment creates a circumstance better avoided than embraced. The circumstances of discomfort and pain accompany sin. So, avoiding sin avoids discomfort and pain (punishment). To avoid discomfort and pain is to fear them. Fear is the human reaction to that which brings, or causes to bring, discomfort and pain.

Jesus was clear in the New Testament that Satan is the one who kills, steals, and destroys. 

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. [John 10.10]

So why should we fear God? Simple: because Satan can only kill, steal, and destroy with God's permission and God's permission is only given when there is sin. 

Jesus clearly stated His purpose was to bring the opposite of theft, death, and destruction. Jesus' life benefit is available through faith. Jesus began His earthly ministry saying:

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” [Matthew 4.17]

Faith in Christ (to deliver us from theft, death, and destruction) can only follow repentance. 

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. [Romans 10.17]

Faith, that comes by hearing God's Word - the Good News about Christ, is the only way to enjoy the benefits Jesus provided. So, if faith comes by hearing God's Word, why then is repentance necessary to activate faith? First, because that is what the Good News about Jesus begins with - His words to "repent" - and because God's Word always implicates man as guilty of sin! The only correct response for sin, before God and Jesus, is repentance! From there then, faith is ready to work!

Repentance therefore is the correct response to the fear of God. 

How does one continue to demonstrate the fear of God is his or her life? By remaining repentant before God! If a person truly fears God, that person will genuinely repent and remain repentant. The only reason a person would stop repenting is because that person stops fearing. And the only reason a person would stop fearing is because that person stops believing there is anything to be feared (because there is no longer sin for which punishment is due).

So, are we sinless or not? Do we fear God or not?

Every bad circumstance in life says that sin still abounds. Otherwise, Jesus' death on the Cross would have stopped all punishment for sin on earth. It would seem then, by the presence of curses on earth, that sin is still afoot. It would furthermore seem necessary then to repent. After all, there is the One capable of 'destroying both body and soul in hell' to be reckoned with - to be feared, as Jesus put it.

I am not sure if I have made any sense here at all... However, I feel like it is only right that we should attempt to understand all we can about the "fear of God." Can we afford to be wrong about this subject?

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” [Luke 18.9-14]

Father, I know that Jesus is my only hope. And, I know that Jesus clearly indicated that I should repent. I know also that Jesus scolded anything but faith. I also know that Jesus taught that a humble repentant approach to You is justified while an arrogant approach to You is not. Father forgive me for pride, greed, and lust. I want to repent today and always...