MaryFreeman

Mat 10:28 KJVAnd fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
1Jn 4:18 KJV
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Fear.... That blinding emotion that has us bracing for the worst.... That thing which allowed satan to destroy everything God had given Job.... That dart that immobilizes a person and renders them useless.... That spirit that causes a small child to think things are there in the dark that are not there when a light comes on....

OR.... Does it bring wisdom with it? Are those who have it blessed? Does it bring you closer to the God who inspires it?

That seems to be what the KJV says.... And still it also says those who fear are not perfected in love.... So is the word of God contradicting itself? I did a word study on the word fear as it is used in the bible.... And I realized two things.... 1) That the Hebrew language often has one word for multiple things.... Unless gender specific.... And 2) The Greek language has many times more words in it than Hebrew.... And multiple words can mean the same thing.... Or sometimes two words can mean one thing but one of those words can also mean something else.....

No wonder folks are confused....

So why is Jesus saying to fear God.... And John says if we do we are not made perfect in love? I think the first thing to remember is that Jesus said "is able to destroy both soul and body in hell".... That is something to be completely terrified of.... But when?

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:

Heb 10:16-18 ABP+
This is the covenant which I will ordain with themafter those days, says the Lord,putting my laws upon their hearts; and upon their thoughts I will inscribe them; (17) and their sins and their lawless deeds in no wayshall I remember any longer. (18) But where there is a release of these,there is no longer an offering for sin.
　
Heb 10:26-27 KJV+
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:31 LITV
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:

I discovered something.... The word Jesus used had multiple meanings to it when He said to fear the one who can destroy you body and soul....
　
φοβέω
phobeō
fob-eh'-o
T o frighten, that is, (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, that is, revere: - be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

John.... On the other hand.... Uses a different word.... With only one choice to it....
　

φόβος
phobos
fob'-os
From a primary
φέβομαιphebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright: - be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.

Which proves the point that the definition you give to the word fear must logically fit into the sentence.... So the words of Jesus make more sense if they are crossreferenced with the words of Paul in Hebrews 10....

No one likes being disliked.... No one likes being threatened.... But if you stand up and are counted a Christian.... You are going to be persecuted.... Period.... Jesus said that they hated Him and so they will hate you.... If we walk away from the knowledge we gain.... If we turn from the Lord and choose to reenter the darkness.... Then the covenant made between us and God is null and void.... There is no more grace.... No more forgiveness.... No more sacrifice.... Just terror and judgment.... And knowing that God remembers everything you did....

Verse 18 states that there is no more offering for sin.... Because God said in verse 17 that He will remember them no more.... The word remission is translated from the Greek word aphesis.... Which means freedom.... Or pardon.... Deliverance.... Forgiveness.... Liberty.... So if you are free of sin then a sacrifice is no longer necessary....

But if we put ourselves back into that sin.... If we lock ourselves back up.... If we go back to sin as a dog returns to his vomit.... The sacrifice that was counted payment for our sins is no longer there.... Because we stepped out from underneath it....

A lot of us (myself included) have decided to disappoint God because we wanted someone to like us.... Or because we were afraid someone was going to hurt us.... Or worse.... Which is what happens when we forget that all they can do is send us back where we belong anyways.... When we let phobos rule.... We lose....

But when Jesus said "fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell".... He used the word phobeo.... Which means much more than just being afraid of someone.... The amplified often translates fear as reverential awe and worship.... So what we should show the Lord is not that we are terrified to make a move lest He strike us down with a convenient bolt of lightening....

Do I mean to tell you not to be scared of God?

Consider this.... No one is afraid of a policeman when they are not speeding.... Or when there is not a policeman nearby.... But when they see a policeman and they are speeding....

In this day and age we have the belief that God is dead.... That He is not nearby surveiling everything happening.... So even the terror of Him.... That fear that you have of Him when you are NOT living for Him.... Seems to be absent.... And in it's place many people have phobias....

The word phobia is derived from the Greek word phobos.... NOT from phobeo.... There is no wonder.... No awe.... No reverence.... In the word phobos.... In fact phobia is defined as an irrational (often illogical) fear.... Like germophobia.... Arachniphobia.... Clostrophobia.... Homophobia....

So if we have no fear at all of the Living God.... Which IS logical.... Then we start fearing things that we shouldn't fear.... Which is ILlogical.... It doesn't make sense to be afraid of all people.... Or small spaces.... Or creepers whos lives you can end with a well placed flipflop.... Or being in a room that is dark....

I had a friend freak out when she saw me walking around my dining room..... In the dark.... I probably should not have found it funny.... But I did.... I didn't show it though.... She said "I don't like people walking around in the dark. It's creepy." I told her it is my house and I am not afraid to traverse it in the dark.... There is nothing in my house when it is dark that isn't there when I turn on a light....

And besides who am I?

The boogywoman????????????

We as a society have traded that which is healthy for that which is not healthy.... Even christians have unhealthy fear.... Especially those who fear the supernatural.... Things such as healing.... Casting out demons.... Speaking or praying in Tongues.... Those things which do not have any human logic to them.... The things our brains don't grab hold of....

But theres more.... A fear of what could happen to your children.... Your spouse getting tired of you.... Your house burning to the ground.... A loved one being struck with a terminal disease.... Financial ruin.... But all these things are tools the devil uses and they are contrary to the knowledge of God....

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:

2Co 10:3-5 KJV
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:

We like to understand that verse five is talking about knowing God.... I rather think that in the case of fear.... When it comes to phobias.... It rather means that those things contradict and try to mask what God knows.... Because His thoughts are not our thoughts.... Which is just another reminder of Gods omniscience and satans lack of it.... He doesn't know what God knows and thats why his fiery darts exalt themselves against what God knows....

You see.... God knows the beginning from the end.... The end from the beginning.... He told Jeremiah He knew him before he was formed.... God knew Jeremiah.... And each one of us.... Before we ever existed.... He knew what we would do and how we would do it.... He knew we would.... Or in some cases would not.... Choose Him....

When God told Jeremiah that he was going where God sent him.... And saying whatever God commanded.... It wasn't an order.... It was a prophecy.... God was telling Jeremiah that He knew what Jeremiah was going to do before Jeremiah ever existed.... And that because of that Jeremiah need have no fear of men.... Because God was with him and would keep him safe (Jeremiah 1:7-8)....

When people ask me am I afraid of my daughter going into the USMC.... I tell them no.... Why? Because God said my children are taught of Him (Isaiah 54:13) and great is their peace.... That every hair on their head is numbered by Him.... That their days and their steps are ordered by Him.... I was given promises by my God concerning my children.... Which casts out all fear....