FEAR NOT

Many people believe God to be a wrathful God, a Hell fire and brimstone God, and a vengeful God. But what does. I see and believe that God is a loving God, a caring God and the God of grace, mercy and peace. But it really doesn’t matter of what we think; it matters what God says

FEAR NOT
Many people believe God to be a wrathful God, a Hell fire and brimstone God, and a vengeful God. But what does. I see and believe that God is a loving God, a caring God and the God of grace, mercy and peace. But it really doesn’t matter of what we think; it matters what God says.
In Genesis 15:1 God tells Abram (Abraham) “fear not”. Why? Because He is Abram’s shield and his exceeding great reward. To Isaac God says “fear not”. Genesis 26: 24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. To the Children of Israel God said “fear not”. Deuteronomy 1: 21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.
The angel of the Lord said to Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father “Fear not” Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. To Mary, Jesus’ mother, the angel of the Lord said “fear not”. Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
So, what about the Christian? Look at Romans 8:15-17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
There are a lot of verses that say to “fear God” 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Hebrews 11:7 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
It seems that there is a contradiction so what is the answer? When we have an apparent contradiction then we have to look either at our understanding or in translation. In this case it is in translation. There is one verse that will help us to see this more clearly. Look at Exodus 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
In this verse there are two usages of the word fear. The first says not to fear and the other says to fear. The answer to this conundrum is in translation. The first word fear is the Hebrew word “yare’ “ which is translated afraid, affright, dread. The second word fear in this verse is the Hebrew word yir’ah which is translated “reverence”. Properly translated in today’s terms it would read: And Moses said unto the people, Fear not (don’t be afraid): for God is come to test you, and that your reverence of God is in the forefront of your mind so that you don’t commit sin.
God doesn’t want us to be afraid of Him, He wants us to reverence and respect Him, to keep in mind who He is and how wonderful He is. When we do this we by our own free will will choose not to break fellowship with God (sin).