“Fear and Trembling” (2 Cor 7:15)

“Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yes, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling, you received him” (vs13-15).

Fear and trembling marks obedience, so that we’re AFRAID to do anything else. This fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and something that must be kept in us, so God gives us the word, puts fear in our heart by the warning and rebuke, and then makes us yield glad obedience to Him by Jesus and the mercies He gives. God will not have us as spoiled children whom He won’t correct, but His correction is not upon a stone that cannot feel; it gets to the heart and changes us INWARDLY before it changes our behavior, “For the [God given and God directed sorrow] works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death. For behold this selfsame thing, that you sorrowed toward God, what diligence it worked in you, yes, what clearing of yourselves, yes, what indignation [against sin], yes, what fear [of repetition, fearing God], yes, what vehement desire, yes, what zeal [to sin no more], yes, what revenge [against sin]! In all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in the matter [a change of conduct and action]” (2 Cor 7:10-11) .

If Adam had FEARED before sinning, then he wouldn’t have had SLAVISH fear afterwards, for “Happy is the man that fears always: but he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief” (Prov 28:14). This FEAR and TREMBLING is essential to obedience, for without it, we SIN that grace might abound and evidence a seared conscience (Eph 4:19). Of the unsaved, it says, “There is no fear of God before their eyes”, so they reject Christ and are not afraid of judgment (Rom 3:18). For the saved, it is different: we KNOW God means business, and BELIEVING God, repentance drives us to the hope of salvation, even as the prodigal had enough of his own self and willingly came home saying, “I perish with hunger!” (Luke 15:17). There was bread back home on his father’s terms (servant, so he thought), even as there is salvation for obedient people. He came home and found God His Father more gracious than imaginable, and so do we, but this doesn’t remove the FEARFULNESS that believers have, which MAKES us obey.

No one obeys God MERELY because he loves Him and without fear; he obeys because he has no choice, and parents are hereby taught wisdom in dealing with their own children. God says, “Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die. You shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell” (Prov 23:13-14). So, whether you use physical pain or other forms of chastisement, fear is MANDATORY if your children obey you. They must know that disobedience is painful to them, and it is BETTER to obey. Give them DISCOMFORT for their sins, and don’t stop because they cry, giving them every help necessary, even pardoning love, so they can obey in hope. As pastors, we must not be ashamed to rebuke and STING our people, preaching the whole counsel of God, because that which makes men fear… the rebuke and warning… is what makes us FLEE to God and obey. Paul said, “For though I made you sorrowful with a letter [1st Corinthians], I do not regret it, though I did regret it: for I perceive that the same epistle has made you sorry, though it were but for a season” (2 Cor 7:8). Paul says that his preaching was “in fear, and in much trembling”, so that he feared dishonoring God, so that he leaned on God’s Spirit for everything, and this OBEDIENCE wrought fruit (1 Cor 2:3). The church at Corinth had many troubles, but Paul STUNG them with rebuke and warning, whereby God COMFORTED them with pardon and power to obey. He put obedience in their mind as essential and set Himself as both the power and the joy.

Obedience is best for us; fear ANYTHING else. “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Ps 2:11). Have enough joy to move you and me God-ward in hope, and have enough fear to not move any other way, and He shall reward you, even as Paul now commends the Corinthians and gives comfort where there’d been tears. He says, “I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things”, being sure they are saved (2 Cor 7:15). Likewise, God will show His pleasure where His disapproval made you and me to fear. He smiles upon His children and gives us the comfort of obedience, which He won’t give in the rebellion of sin. By obedience, He removes the chastisement and the sting, so change your ACTIONS by Christ, and you’ll also change your experience in this life.