Unholy Fear: A Guilty Conscience Leads To
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Unholy fear, distinct from the reverential fear of the Lord, is a manifestation of a guilty conscience that can lead to spiritual and emotional turmoil. This type of fear is rooted in sin and disobedience, causing individuals to experience anxiety, dread, and a sense of separation from God. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that illustrate the consequences of unholy fear and the importance of maintaining a clear conscience before God.

Biblical Examples:

1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8-10): The first instance of unholy fear is found in the account of Adam and Eve. After disobeying God's command by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they experienced guilt and fear. "Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called out to the man, 'Where are you?' 'I heard Your voice in the garden,' he replied, 'and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself'" (Genesis 3:8-10). Their fear led them to hide from God, illustrating how sin disrupts the relationship between humanity and the Creator.

2. Cain (Genesis 4:13-14): After murdering his brother Abel, Cain was consumed by fear of retribution. "But Cain said to the LORD, 'My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground, and from Your face I will be hidden; and I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me'" (Genesis 4:13-14). Cain's guilty conscience led to a life of fear and alienation.

3. Saul (1 Samuel 28:5, 15-20): King Saul, having disobeyed God, was plagued by fear and insecurity. When faced with the Philistine army, "Saul saw the Philistine camp and was afraid; his heart trembled greatly" (1 Samuel 28:5). In desperation, he sought counsel from a medium, further compounding his guilt and fear. Saul's unholy fear ultimately led to his downfall.

Teachings on Unholy Fear:

1. Proverbs 28:1: "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion" . This proverb highlights the contrast between the guilty conscience of the wicked and the confidence of the righteous. Unholy fear causes the wicked to live in constant anxiety, even when no threat is present.

2. 1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love" . This verse emphasizes that unholy fear is incompatible with the love of God. A guilty conscience, rooted in sin, prevents individuals from experiencing the fullness of God's love and grace.

3. Hebrews 10:22: "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" . The author of Hebrews encourages believers to approach God with confidence, having been cleansed from a guilty conscience through the sacrifice of Christ.

Consequences of Unholy Fear:

Unholy fear can lead to a range of negative consequences, both spiritually and emotionally. It can cause individuals to withdraw from God, avoid fellowship with other believers, and live in a state of constant anxiety. This fear can also lead to further sin, as individuals may seek to alleviate their guilt through worldly means rather than repentance and faith in Christ.

The Bible consistently calls believers to live in the fear of the Lord, which is characterized by reverence, awe, and obedience. In contrast, unholy fear is a product of sin and a guilty conscience, leading to separation from God and spiritual unrest. Through repentance and faith, believers can be freed from the bondage of unholy fear and restored to a right relationship with God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Genesis 3:8,10
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 53:5
There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God has scattered the bones of him that encamps against you: you have put them to shame, because God has despised them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Heavenly Race
... them; and that he who leads an unholy life, who ... is nothing beautiful to the man that
has a guilty conscience. ... he is"he is irreligious"he has no fear of God ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the heavenly race.htm

The Impotence of the Law.
... and fruits of sin, holy thoughts and unholy thoughts. ... of guiltiness until I throb
with anguish, and moral fear? ... Do we feel ourselves to be guilty beings; do we ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the impotence of the law.htm

Entire Sanctification in Patriarchal Times.
... agreed with any person or anything that is unholy. ... only distressed in mind from fear
and anxiety ... altogether free from the condemnation of a guilty conscience. ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter iii entire sanctification in.htm

On Friendship with the World
... those sins of omission whereof their worldly acquaintance are guilty. ... frequently,
with men that do not fear God ... reason given for some intimacy with an unholy man ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 80 on friendship with.htm

The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep ...
... little ones; let the whole world become guilty before God ... When, by the fear of Divine
vengeance, they are ... for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 the law given.htm

The First Fruits of the Spirit
... the ungodly and sinners, against the unholy and profane ... the bondage of slavish,
tormenting fear, of guilt ... beareth witness that we are guilty, undoubtedly God ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 8 the first fruits.htm

Chapter iii
... a clean and holy perceiving but an unholy lusting ... Here it is the direct reaction
of a guilty conscience. ... Mistrust and fear have, for one thing, taken the place ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter iii.htm

A Call to Backsliders
... counting the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, treading ... of the devils." Now,
have you been guilty of this? ... Dismiss that vain terror; let your fear be more ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 86 a call to.htm

A Description of Heart-Purity
... Desire spurs him on to sin, but fear as a curb and bit checks him. ... An unholy heart
does not care how it rushes upon an ordinance ... Let such as are guilty reform it ...
/.../16 a description of heart-purity.htm

The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption.
... such a height, that the poor, sinful, guilty soul, is ... some inward sin, some evil
temper or unholy affection ... under the law," under the "spirit of fear and bondage ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 9 the spirit of.htm

Resources
Is it true that fear is a liar? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible mean when it tells us to fear not / do not fear? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about fear? | GotQuestions.org

Fear: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Fear

Fear and Anxiety

Fear of God: A Motive of Obedience

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Abraham, Tested in the offering of his Son Isaac

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Cornelius, Who Revered God With all his House

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: David

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Hanani, Which Qualified Him to be Ruler Over Jerusalem

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Job, According to the Testimony of Satan

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Jonah, During the Storm

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Levi, in Receiving the Covenant of Life and Peace

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Nehemiah, in his Reform of the Public Administration

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: Noah, in Preparing the Ark

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: The Jews, in Obeying the Voice of the Lord

Fear of God: Conspicuous Instances of Those Who Feared: The Women at the Grave

Fear of God: Cultivated

Fear of God: Guilty

Fear of God: Guilty Fear: Adam and Eve

Fear of God: Guilty Fear: Demons

Fear of God: Guilty Fear: Judas

Fear of God: Guilty Fear: The Guards at Jesus' Tomb

Fear of God: Hezekiah, in his Treatment of the Prophet Micah, Who Prophesied Harm Against Jerusalem

Fear of God: Jacob, in the Vision of the Ladder, and the Covenant of God

Fear of God: Jehoshaphat

Fear of God: Obadiah, in Sheltering One-Hundred Prophets Against the Wrath of Jezebel

Fear of God: Phinehas, in Turning Away the Anger of God at the Time of the Plague

Fear of God: Reverence

Fear of God: The Egyptians, at the Time of the Plague of Thunder and Hail and Fire

Fear of God: The Midwives of Egypt, in Refusing to Take the Lives of the Hebrew Children

Fear of God: The Nine and One-Half Tribes of Israel West of the Jordan River

Fear of the Lord

Godly Fear: A Characteristic of Saints

Godly Fear: A Fountain of Life

Godly Fear: A Treasure to Saints

Godly Fear: Abraham

Godly Fear: Advantages of

Godly Fear: Christians

Godly Fear: Commanded

Godly Fear: Cornelius

Godly Fear: Filial and Reverential

Godly Fear: God is the Author of

Godly Fear: God is the Object of

Godly Fear: Hatred of Evil

Godly Fear: Job

Godly Fear: Joseph

Godly Fear: Motives to Judgments of God

Godly Fear: Motives to The Forgiveness of God

Godly Fear: Motives to The Goodness of God

Godly Fear: Motives to The Greatness of God

Godly Fear: Motives to The Holiness of God

Godly Fear: Motives to Wondrous Works of God

Godly Fear: Necessary to Avoiding of Sin

Godly Fear: Necessary to Impartial Administration of Justice

Godly Fear: Necessary to Perfecting Holiness

Godly Fear: Necessary to Righteous Government

Godly Fear: Necessary to The Service of God

Godly Fear: Necessary to The Worship of God

Godly Fear: Nehemiah

Godly Fear: Noah

Godly Fear: Obadiah

Godly Fear: Sanctifying

Godly Fear: Searching the Scriptures Gives the Understanding of

Godly Fear: should Accompany the Joy of Saints

Godly Fear: should be Constantly Maintained

Godly Fear: should be Exhibited in Giving a Reason for Our Hope

Godly Fear: should be Exhibited in Our Callings

Godly Fear: should be Prayed For

Godly Fear: should be Taught to Others

Godly Fear: The Wicked Destitute of

Godly Fear: Those Who Have are Accepted of God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have are Blessed

Godly Fear: Those Who Have are Pitied by God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Afford Pleasure to God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Confide in God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Converse Together of Holy Things

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Days of, Prolonged

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Depart from Evil

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Desires of, Fulfilled by God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: Receive Mercy from God

Godly Fear: Those Who Have: should not Fear Man

Godly Fear: Wisdom

Unholy Fear is Described as a Fear of Future Punishment

Unholy Fear is Described as a Fear of Idols

Unholy Fear is Described as a Fear of Judgments

Unholy Fear is Described as a Fear of Man

Unholy Fear is Described as Consuming

Unholy Fear is Described as Overwhelming

Unholy Fear: A Characteristic of the Wicked

Unholy Fear: A Guilty Conscience Leads To

Unholy Fear: Adam

Unholy Fear: Adonijah's Guests

Unholy Fear: Ahaz

Unholy Fear: Belshazzar

Unholy Fear: Cain

Unholy Fear: Exhortations Against

Unholy Fear: Felix

Unholy Fear: God Mocks

Unholy Fear: Haman

Unholy Fear: Midianites

Unholy Fear: Philistines

Unholy Fear: Pilate

Unholy Fear: Saints Delivered From

Unholy Fear: Saints Sometimes Tempted To

Unholy Fear: Saul

Unholy Fear: Seizes the Wicked

Unholy Fear: Shall be Realised

Unholy Fear: Surprises the Hypocrite

Unholy Fear: The Wicked Judicially Filled With

Unholy Fear: Trust in God, a Preservative From

Related Terms

Impure (28 Occurrences)

Profane (69 Occurrences)

Disobedient (30 Occurrences)

Major (2 Occurrences)

Purified (44 Occurrences)

Regard (230 Occurrences)

Unclean (393 Occurrences)

Visit (97 Occurrences)

Noisy (14 Occurrences)

Nephilim (2 Occurrences)

Unhonoured (1 Occurrence)

Unlawful (9 Occurrences)

Unhinderedly (1 Occurrence)

Union (24 Occurrences)

Unhallowed (3 Occurrences)

Ungodly (41 Occurrences)

Unthankful (2 Occurrences)

Outraged (3 Occurrences)

Join (70 Occurrences)

Lovers (57 Occurrences)

Lawless (16 Occurrences)

Licentiousness (10 Occurrences)

Licence (3 Occurrences)

Gentile (24 Occurrences)

Greed (19 Occurrences)

Godless (31 Occurrences)

Impurity (42 Occurrences)

Insubordinate (3 Occurrences)

Impious (19 Occurrences)

Inclinations (3 Occurrences)

Image-worship (1 Occurrence)

Insulted (18 Occurrences)

Idly (4 Occurrences)

Forbidden (20 Occurrences)

Takers (4 Occurrences)

Trodden (42 Occurrences)

Revilers (3 Occurrences)

Realizing (7 Occurrences)

Reality (13 Occurrences)

Railers (1 Occurrence)

Earthward (1 Occurrence)

Execrate (4 Occurrences)

Disobedience (49 Occurrences)

Desisting (1 Occurrence)

Difference (19 Occurrences)

Debauchery (9 Occurrences)

Despite (18 Occurrences)

Murderers (9 Occurrences)

Man-slayers (1 Occurrence)

Manslayers (1 Occurrence)

Mothers (27 Occurrences)

Profaned (43 Occurrences)

Proud (96 Occurrences)

Pursuing (50 Occurrences)

Boasters (6 Occurrences)

Boastful (18 Occurrences)

Blasphemers (2 Occurrences)

Covetous (11 Occurrences)

Cases (16 Occurrences)

Crushed (199 Occurrences)

Application (2 Occurrences)

Achzib (4 Occurrences)

Associate (20 Occurrences)

Abusive (7 Occurrences)

Arrogant (60 Occurrences)

Strictly (19 Occurrences)

Selves (14 Occurrences)

Shown (131 Occurrences)

Sanctified (105 Occurrences)

Sorer (1 Occurrence)

Smiters (3 Occurrences)

Sinful (61 Occurrences)

Sensual (8 Occurrences)

Shouldn't (20 Occurrences)

Spurned (16 Occurrences)

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)

Parents (27 Occurrences)

Treated (69 Occurrences)

Respect (204 Occurrences)

Unholy Fear: A Characteristic of the Wicked
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