There are some who think that believers need to fear God otherwise we will be judged.

Such thinking is from the old covenant of the Law – that demanded perfect obedience otherwise it brought the fear of judgment. This is the spirit of fear and bondage that brings condemnation under the law.

But do you know that in the New Covenant, when we believe in Jesus Christ apart from our works, we are made righteous and become God’s beloved children.

Romans 8 ” ¹⁵ For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; “

Believers are no longer under the spirit of fear of judgment. But we have received the Holy Spirit – the spirit of Sonship – we are know Daddy’s beloved children. We are no longer afraid of judgment because Jesus already was judged for our sins and He rose from the dead to make us righteous and perfect by grace without our works!

Under the old covenant, the Israelites were afraid of God because the Law accounted all their sins. But now in the new covenant, we have peace with God because all our sins are forgiven! (Read Hebrews 12:18-24)

We have come as prodigal sons to the lavish love of the Father who is hosting a joyous feast of salvation for us.

Luke 15 “²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

Under the Law, it was impossible to know God like a loving Daddy!

The Jews were in constant fear of God under the burdens of the oppressive law.

But when Jesus came, one of the most common words He used to the Jews was this:

Matthew 14 “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.””

Matthew 17 “Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.”

Matthew 28 “The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified…..Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.””

Mark 4 “He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 5 “But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

Mark 6 “for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.””

Luke 1 “The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

Luke 2 “The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.”

Luke 5 “and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

Luke 8 “But Jesus hearing it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.”

Luke 12 “But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows….Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”

John 6 “But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

John 12 ““Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

John 14 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Why does Jesus tell people not to be afraid?

It is because He died for our sins and rose from the dead to make us righteous by faith and not by works!

John 20 “⁹ When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.“

Dear friends, our Lord Jesus came to remove the fear of God and bring us the LOVE of the FATHER.

No one has seen God but when we see/believe in Jesus, we have seen/known the Father!

John 1 “¹⁴ The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” ¹⁶ From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.“

Jesus came to reveal the TRUE image of God – GRACE and not the Law! Love and not fear!

1 John 4 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.”

If we fear God, it’s because of the fear of judgment – that happens when we think we are under the Law that demands works. But we are now under Grace as believers where God no longer judges our sins!

John 5 “²⁴ “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. “

There is no fear in love because God’s love has taken away our sins in Jesus Christ and there is no judgment for the believer.

John 14 “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’

2 Corinthians 4 “⁵ For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake, ⁶ seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.“

The glory of God is revealed in the face of Christ – our sins are forgiven if we believe in Christ.