Step 4 of the LifeWay lesson “Have Faith” skips Hebrews 2:14-15, and focuses only on Hebrews 2:16-18. Dr. Sam Tullock’s commentary on the lesson, mentions the skipped verses.
In my reading of these verses, Jesus had to be fully human (only as a human could he be an acceptable stand-in to suffer judgment in place of sinful humans), and that he had to die (God’s just punishment for sin). Moreover, in dying he defeated the very power Satan holds over humans—the fear of death. In other words, if Satan had had power (fear of death) over Jesus, Jesus would not have died. But thanks to God, Jesus had no fear of judgment from God after death and so he died. In doing so, he destroyed Satan’s power over humans (our fear of God's judgment when we die). That’s something we all need and we appropriate it by faith when God calls us to receive the righteousness offered in Jesus Christ.
But I’m confused since verse 15 implies the opposite of Romans 3:18 where Paul said, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Anyone want to help me out of what surely is wrong thinking?
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The fear of God and the fear of death are two different fears. Fearing death (Hebrews)is a result of not fearing God(Romans). Living the way we choose will eventually have consequences, whether someone is more afraid of no longer being able to do anything or more afraid of facing the consequences depends on the person, but it is still a fear of death because they did not fear God. Those who fear God, obey God. Because of what Jesus did (Hebrews) we no longer have a fear of death.
Thanks ped,
Inspite of your good attempt, I still don't get it. Let me explain. I understand fear of death (Heb) to be the same as fear of judgment by God after death, which implies fear of God. Otherwise, why would someone fear death if there is no judgment? But Paul says there is no fear of God (Rom) and that's my confusion.
You said, "Fearing death (Hebrews)is a result of not fearing God(Romans)." Can you connect that dot for me?
Appreciate it,
what is fear?
The human emotion of fear is apprehension or anxiety in response to a real or perceived event.
Fear of God comes from knowing He keeps His promises and has promised wrath for the disobedient. A believer who knows God keeps his promises will have fear of God's wrath and but through Jesus, we are freed of the fear of death because He has already taken our punishment.
In Romans 3:18, who was Paul talking about? In context, it appears he was referring to non-believers who continued to live unrighteous lives under the law. They needed fear but didn't have it.
I believe the fear of God as referenced in Romans 3:18 refers to the same fear of the Lord mentioned throughout the Proverbs and Psalms. As it is used in those books it is the act of worshipping, following, revering, and obeying God. In Romans 3, Paul is pointing out (from scriptures in both Psalms and Proverbs, also Eccl. 12:13) that both the Jew and the Gentile are guilty of not obeying God by doing things that break the commandments and by showing no "fear of God" in their actions.
I don't think that the fear of death or even the fear of judgement after death is the same as the fear of God where one worships, follows and obeys God. I think it gets to the figure of speech that was first used in the Bible in Gen. 22:12 because Abraham feared God by obeying God.
Now as a matter of discussion, the fear of death would have been universal prior to Jesus's resurrection on the cross, because before Jesus no one had died, been resurrected and remained alive forever. Every person capable of reasoning and who is acccountable for their actions controls what they do with an overriding fear of death... I can't jump out of a plane without a parachute, or jump off a ship in the middle of the ocean, or tap dance in a den of poisonous snakes, or (pick something dangerous to insert here) because if I do that I will die. Even my one year old feared the lack of air when he was taking his safestart swimming lessons. His body and mind fought together to get him to the surface of the water. The protection of our own life permeates every sane person's action, because of the fear of death.
I hope I haven't rambled or confused this any more.
Thanks ethel,
I've been thinking much about your comments (and ped's). Summarizing what I think I'm hearing, perhaps fear of God is best understood in the Roman's context as lack of reverence for God by unbelievers (all humanity included). But possessing a fear of death (Heb) also implies a lack of reverence for God if Christ's work on the cross is rejected (applies again to an unbeliever). I'll keep noodling on it and praying that God continues to make it clear to me. Appreciate the help, Ronnie
servinghim interestingly enough I have been doing some personal studies in Hebrews. While I am not quite to chapter 7 there is an overriding theme throughout Hebrews that will answer your question. However, I can't do it right this minute, so give me until noon tommorrow and I will try and see if we can clear this thing up.
I meant chapter 2.
Thanks Scott. I appreciate it...
I guess for me to understand you, I would need for you to talk through, with Bible references, how fear of death constitutes a fear of God. I don't see it implied in the text so I need you to explain biblically for me. Thanks.
Oh, I want you to know that I really appreciate this site and the work you are doing here.
Ped, I defined fear of God as lack of reverence for God. Denying Christ's work on the cross demonstrates lack of reverence for God, hence a fear of God (by an unbeliever). As an unbeliever that person also has a fear of death (Heb).
Clear as mud?
Haven't heard back yet from Scott, but after meditating a bit more on the issue, I want to summarize my thoughts as follows:
Unbelievers reject God's salvation, implying they have no reverence for God, or as Paul said in Romans 3:18, they have "no fear of God." According to Hebrews 2:15 then, these unbelievers have a fear of death. Believers have been freed from the fear death (and subsequent judgment) because of Christ's work on the cross. Hope this makes sense to everyone.
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