The Too Long, Didn’t Read is this: do not make decisions based on fear. Those decisions are not in line with God in all cases. If that’s enough, good for you. If you’d like some scriptural backing for that position, read on.
"FEAR" by Kevin B 3 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Modern media of all sorts are geared to retain eyeballs, influence purchases, and move us emotionally in one direction or another. Everything we watch and hear is designed to elicit something from us in either action or emotion. Fear is a common emotion tickled by the media. But fear is not a spirit of God. It isn’t a place we should work from, meaning we shouldn’t make decisions based on fear. But what does scripture tell us about fear, God, and how we deal with it?
God does not operate from a position of fear. God does things with, in, and out of love. Love for His children, His creation, and the best interests for all He has made. When we, as children of the Lord, operate from a position of love rather than fear, we operate in a godly, righteous manner pleasing to the Father. Let’s look at some scripture, the Greek words behind that scripture, and see what we can extrapolate from what we read.
To begin, let’s start with 1 Timothy 1:6-7 from the King James Version specifically.
6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:6–7 (KJV 1900)
“God hath not given us the spirit of fear…” is what the King James says. Let’s compare that with the NASB translation.
6For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
2 Timothy 1:6–7 (NASB95)
“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity….” That’s a little different. Why is that? Let’s see the Greek word behind this passage.
Greek Strong’s Number: 1167
Greek Word: δειλία
Transliteration: deilia
Phonetic Pronunciation: di-lee’-ah
Root: from <G1169>
Cross Reference: Part of Speech: n f
Vine’s Words: Fear, Fearful, FearfulnessUsage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
fear 1
[Total Count: 1]from <G1169> (deilos); timidity:- fear.
James Strong, “Δειλία,” Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
It’s the only place this word is used, but it is timidity in fear, acting out of a motivation of fear. Paul tells us not to do this. What we are to do, is to use love instead of fear. In love, there is no fear because, in love, there is no harm. But how is that? First, let’s look at a piece of scripture that confirms fear does not exist in love.
16We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
17By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
19We love, because He first loved us.
1 John 4:16–19 (NASB95)
When we abide in love as God abides in love we abide in a perfected way of doing things. This way is God’s way, not Man’s way. It is because God is the Creator of all things that He knows the right way and wrong way to do anything. If we do things the way God directs them, wants them, and created them to be done, we can be assured we are pleasing to Him. God’s punishment is reserved for those who are not His children keeping His ways, following His son Jesus. Fear lives within the idea that we will be punished, as stated in verse eighteen. If we operate out of a position of God’s love founded in His ways, we remove fear because we know we are doing things the way He would do them if He were here. That knowledge reassures us and allows us to overcome our fear. We cannot operate in love the way God would if we don’t first do things the way God would if He were doing whatever it is. These two things are mutually inclusive, meaning we cannot actually be operating in love if we don’t do things God’s way. Our efforts are doomed to fail or fall short if we try to claim love but eschew God’s methods. Likewise, if we adhere to His ways but our motivations are something other than kindness and compassion towards others, we again fail to achieve His goals.
We can put our actions to a simple test in 1 John 4. Do no harm.
8Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:8–10 (NASB95)
Notice embedded in this passage of loving our neighbor and the statement love does no wrong to that neighbor are God’s ways, His rules, and what He says is right and wrong. Just saying “love wins” is a copout without also understanding how we are to love. We are to love as He loves, meaning support the right and not support or do the wrong. What is right and wrong? God decides because God made it all, so He gets to decide that. The good news is it isn’t hidden. The bad news is that some people don’t want to read through it because they’re worried they will do things God doesn’t like. The good news is that Jesus took care of that for us via His sacrifice on the cross. While we are guilty of doing things God doesn’t like, we are also washed clean in the blood of the Lamb by carrying the faith that Jesus was the Son of God, and His sacrifice can do that for us as the final sin offering. How do we know that this one man’s sacrifice one time over two thousand years ago takes care of that for us today? Because God said it does, and He doesn’t change.
6“For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Malachi 3:6 (NASB95)
This also means what He said was right or wrong all those years ago still is right or wrong. The good news is that it no longer binds us to Heaven or Hell. Having or not having faith in Jesus does that now. This is what it means to say that we are not under those rules because Jesus fulfilled them. We are out from under them as the path to Heaven because Jesus was the final sin offering fulfilling the Law that a suitable sacrifice for sin be made. He was that sacrifice. Thus, this scripture has zero contradiction in it.
16“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:16–20 (NASB95)
If fear isn’t a spirit from God, then what is? To answer that, first, let's look at a scripture from Romans.
14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Romans 8:14–17 (NASB95)
“…you have not received a spirit of slavery…” this again means a spirit in fear of being punished. Slavery to what? Slavery to the Law, to the forms of sacrifice, demanded of people in the temple days, weeks, months, and years of their lives. That was the way to Heaven, but it has been completed and fulfilled in the final sacrifice by Jesus the Christ.
What we have received is “…you have received a spirit of adoption…” meaning we are now God’s children. Not just those labeled as Israelites but also called gentiles; everyone not Jewish follows God’s ways by holding faith in His son. We all belong to Him now. As our Father in Heaven, He will not abandon or leave us regardless of what we’ve done so long as we hold to faith in His Son, Jesus. This knowledge should drive out our fear, and it is reinforced and reassured in scripture.
6“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NASB95)
This reassurance that we are His and He won’t leave us does not mean we won’t have difficulties in this life. Life has struggles. We have hardship. We will be disappointed, but God won’t leave us behind. We are His, and He loves us.
9You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.
10‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:9–10 (NASB95)
While living out of a spirit of love in God, we should remember that others who do not share our faith still exist. They live out their lives as best as they can. Some of them will want to know where our peace comes from. For them, we can offer hope. But those who are not interested, do not seek the stability we have, and cannot fathom how our faith works are left to the turmoil of this life. Sometimes we will see them prosper and we mustn’t envy, worry, or feel angry that they succeed or prosper without the principles we hold. God has created everything; in the end, Jesus will judge everything. We do not have the Big Picture view of creation God has. That means we cannot know the true just judgment of other people like Jesus can because He knows the hearts of people, whereas we do not. Because Christ knows the true motivations in people's hearts, we can be assured that God's judgment is both just and right. In that knowledge that everyone receives what Jesus believes they deserve in the end, we can remove our anger for what we perceive as unjust things in this world. With that knowledge, we can rest easy until the time we will be judged based on our own actions and motivations. Our job, goal, and work should be to make sure we have motivations and actions centered on how God wants things done rather than how Man wants things done. To do this, we should make absolutely sure we do not act out of a spirit of fear because fear never comes from God.
26“Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
27“What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.
28“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:26–28 (NASB95)
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