“There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18).
The French author, philosopher, and statesman Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) was once quoted as saying, “My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.” That statement reminds us that our fears may sometimes arise from potential scenarios that never actually materialize. However, Romans 3:18 alerts us to one legitimate fear that has been conspicuous by its absence over the general course of human history: the fear of God.
Regardless of their station in life, the vast majority of unrepentant human beings would undoubtedly choose to live differently if they truly possessed a healthy fear of God. For instance, it’s difficult to understand why some elect to travel a hurtful, destructive life-path that will surely bring pain to themselves and others. It’s hard to grasp why some choose to lie, cheat, or steal, even when there’s no obvious incentive for doing so. It’s unsettling to consider the many individuals who feel empowered to behave unethically, abuse their authority, exploit others, waste their skills and talents, or act in a manner that seems intentionally designed to cause harm.
While there might be any number of explanations for such behaviors, there is one overriding response that can account for each of those choices: such people have no genuine fear of God. That lack of fear might be attributable to a variety of sources. For example, some may have convinced themselves that God does not exist. Others may have fashioned an illusory god to suit their own preferences. Some may confidently assert that their “good works” will outweigh their “bad works” in the afterlife. Then there are those who are trusting in an ancestral relationship, a religious ritual, or some other ceremonial observance to guarantee their spiritual well-being.
The issue is that Paul the Apostle has demolished each of those facades over the first three chapters of this Epistle. Therefore, to borrow a phrase from earlier in this book, such individuals are without excuse. Thus, when we speak of “fearing God” in this context, it means that we should honor and respect Him above all else. That attitude of reverence is missing from the behavioral attitudes that Paul has cataloged over the past several verses of this chapter.
For those who genuinely seek to honor God, the following source leaves us with a balanced perspective on this idea…
“As Christians, we certainly must reject a servile fear of God, as if He were a cruel tyrant (Rom. 8:15). Romans 8:1 makes it plain that there is ‘no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ Yet, it is still right for us as Christians who struggle daily with indwelling sin (7:15–23) to fear what that sin could do to our lives and what disciplines our heavenly Father might bring if we sin (Heb. 12:6).” (1)
Image Attribution: Jean-Marie DAVID Dinkley, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
(1) Living out a healthy fear of the Lord | Tabletalk. (2020, March 30). Tabletalk. https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2020/04/living-out-a-healthy-fear-of-the-lord/