Fear of God involves a reverential trust toward God through awareness of His awesome person and character. In its biblical sense, fear of God contrasts with a cringing, anxious dread or with unrelieved guilt due to a wrong relationship God (cf. Genesis 3:10); Job 9:35; 1 John 4:18). Biblical fear of God accords with His own love and with Christian love toward Him since a reverential love holds God in highest esteem. Fear of God is "the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). One who fears God takes His person and holiness seriously and consequently has a repulsion toward sin and all that is contrary to God's character (Proverbs 16:6). Reverential service to God is motivated by God's great work for His people (1 Samuel 12:24). Irreverence toward God leads to disrespect for fellow men (Nehemiah 5:9-12; Luke 18:2-4).

This topic is from the Lockman Foundation.