Faith comes by Hearing, but Obedience comes by Fear!

[ozell]

In the scriptures its written in

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

 

[Hitch]

In the scriptures its written in

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

This passage should always be a primary component when we strive for ballance on this issue.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

If you are serving God out of fear of punishment, you are serving God in a less than perfect way. Nothing terribly wrong with that, except that there really is a better and more desirable motivation from which God wants us to serve him. And that is from love...our love given back to him because he first loved us.

The person who primarily serves out of the fear of punishment has not been made perfect in love yet. Just hang on...God isn't finished with you yet. He's bringing all of us to that place of loving service to him. Meanwhile, like children still growing up, fear of punishment may be the greater motivation for serving our Father in heaven and keeping his commandments.

Faith comes by hearing, sure enough, but in the end obedience comes from our love for God for what he has done for us in the giving of Christ Jesus.