Topical Bible: Godly Fear: Motives to The Goodness of God

◄ Godly Fear: Motives to The Goodness of God ►

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Godly fear, often understood as a reverent awe and respect for the Almighty, is a foundational aspect of the believer's relationship with God. It is not a fear that paralyzes or terrifies, but rather one that inspires and motivates a life of holiness and obedience. Central to this concept is the recognition of God's goodness, which serves as a compelling motive for cultivating godly fear.

The Nature of Godly Fear

The Bible presents godly fear as an essential component of wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." This fear is rooted in a deep respect for God's character and His righteous judgments. It acknowledges His sovereignty and power, while also embracing His love and mercy.

The Goodness of God as a Motive

The goodness of God is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, and it serves as a powerful motive for godly fear. God's goodness is evident in His creation, His providence, and His redemptive work through Jesus Christ. Psalm 34:8 invites believers to "taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." This goodness is not merely an abstract quality but is experienced personally by those who seek Him.

1. Creation and Providence: God's goodness is manifest in the beauty and order of creation. Genesis 1 repeatedly affirms that God saw His creation as "good." This inherent goodness reflects His character and provides a basis for trusting Him. In His providence, God sustains and cares for His creation, as seen in Matthew 6:26, where Jesus reminds His followers of God's provision for the birds of the air.

2. Redemption and Salvation: The ultimate demonstration of God's goodness is found in the redemptive work of Christ. Romans 5:8 declares, "But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This sacrificial love compels believers to respond with reverence and awe, recognizing the depth of God's goodness in providing a way of salvation.

3. Covenant Faithfulness: God's goodness is also evident in His faithfulness to His covenant promises. Deuteronomy 7:9 affirms, "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments." This faithfulness assures believers of God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His people.

Responses to God's Goodness

The recognition of God's goodness naturally leads to a response of godly fear, characterized by worship, obedience, and trust.

· Worship: Acknowledging God's goodness leads to heartfelt worship. Psalm 100:4-5 encourages believers to "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations."

· Obedience: Godly fear motivates obedience to God's commands. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 exhorts, "And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?"

· Trust: Trusting in God's goodness provides peace and security. Psalm 31:19 proclaims, "How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You."

In summary, godly fear, motivated by the recognition of God's goodness, is a vital aspect of the believer's life. It leads to a deeper relationship with God, characterized by worship, obedience, and trust, as believers respond to the overwhelming evidence of His benevolent character.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 12:24
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he has done for you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... No, no; that is, if it be right and godly. ... where he had not strawed." This his fear,
being ungodly ... made him apprehend of Christ contrary to the goodness of his ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm

The Eternal Punishment of the Wicked Reconciled with the Goodness ...
... and love, as well as with a godly fear and wholesome ... by the greatest of all conceivable
motives to pursue ... should be finally lost, his infinite goodness will be ...
/.../chapter iv the eternal punishment.htm

Letter xix. Submission to the Will of God; Dependence Upon Him for ...
... But the answer of this godly man is worthy of being ... more instructive than other
histories is, that the motives of men ... for there is no want to them that fear him ...
/.../letter xix submission to the.htm

An Exhortation to Love God
... But if you love God, there is no fear of losing ... Thus we have seen twenty motives
to excite and inflame our ... A godly man is contented with a very little of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/an exhortation to love god.htm

Ananias and Sapphira.
... truth was sincere, and their motives were upright ... we may serve God acceptably, with
reverence and godly fear. ... But then undissembled goodness shall be brought to ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture vi ananias and sapphira.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... With what holy reverence and godly fear should we approach this ... 2.) The goodness
of God ... as practical as possible; particularly looking into the motives of your ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

One Thing is Needful;
... to be bad, not arising from evangelical motives; while all ... fill me always with thy
holy fear, And godly ... that holiness Thou dost with so much godly zeal express ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/one thing is needful.htm

First Sunday after Epiphany
... Such motives, however, sway the ecclesiasts, who have heaped ... with real enjoyment,
unmoved by fear of hell ... is preaching to those already godly Christians through ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/first sunday after epiphany.htm

I Reject this Predestination for the Following Reasons:
... 1. Because it prevents that saving and godly sorrow for ... takes away all that most
salutary fear and trembling ... not among the last of those motives which induced ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/3 i reject this predestination.htm

The Christian Described
... Among the motives to prevail with thee to fall in with this ... thing to build our faith
upon the most godly man in ... be, to engage to holiness and the fear of God ...
/.../bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xii the christian described.htm