The Fear Of God

What is the difference between slavish fear and childlike fear?

Slavish fear has its roots in the covenant of works; childlike fear, in the covenant of grace.  Slavish fear is provoked by the consequences of sin; childlike fear, by the God-dishonoring character of sin. Slavish fear is motivated by legalistic servitude, looking for reward; childlike fear is motivated by voluntary obedience, looking for grace.  In slavish fear, the enmity of our heart is not broken; in childlike fear, this enmity is broken.  In slavish fear we have hard thoughts of God;  in childlike fear we have high thoughts of God.  Slavish fear hates punishment; childlike fear hates sin.  Slavish fear seeks for self-preservation and self-honor; childlike fear seeks the preservation of the Lord's attributes and honor.  Slavish fear produces a convinced sinner;childlike fear, a truly convicted, converted sinner.  Slavish fear looks for relief; childlike fear looks for welfare above relief.

Slavish fear is of a temporary character.  "It is", as John Warburton said, "religion in fits and starts.  It comes and goes."  Childlike fear is more steady; it abides more deeply; it grows more profoundly in the soil of the heart.  Slavish fear ultimately returns to the world.  It clings to sin and is choked by the world.  childlike fear cannot return to the world; it parts from sin, and longs to be with God. Slavish fear never truly humbles the sinner as an unworthy sinner; childlike fear humbles the sinner as the chiefest of transgressors.  Slavish fear leaves the eye closed to Christ; childlike fear has its eye fixed upon Christ.

Slavish fear has its own glory as its ultimate goal; it desires only a quieted conscience, peace and rest.  Childlike fear aims for the glory of God; true rest in God is its lofty goal.  Slavish fear ends in damnation; childlike fear ends in salvation.  Which kind of fear do we possess, my friends, slavish or childlike?

Dr.Joel R.Beeke, www.heritagebooks.org

        Quotables on the Fear of God

"The fear of the Lord is that affectionate reverence by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father's law."   Charles Bridges

"Though there is not always grace where there is fear of hell, yet, to be sure, there is no grace where there is no fear of God."   John Bunyan

"The fear of God is the root and origin of all righteousness."    John Calvin

"As faith is a grace that feeds all the rest, so fear is a grace that guards all the rest."   William Secker

"The fear of God promotes spiritual joy; it is the morning star that ushers in the sunlight of comfort."
Thomas Watson