Lay it Down by Bill Tell

Helping you find freedom by laying down performance-driven Christianity. There is a place for you here. Welcome.

If Fear is Replaced, What About Philippians 2:12-13? (50 seconds)

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One of our blog followers asked a great question…and a common question. If our fear of God that is rooted in His punishment of us is eliminated (because He will no longer punish us) and replaced with boldness and confidence – what does Paul mean in Philippians 2:12 when he says “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling?”

First, the “work out” is an admonition to live out what God has already done in us. He has given us a new heart, a new nature, so live that out. Among commentators there seems to be no disagreement here.

I believe that the “fear and trembling” is not a fear of God, but a fear of ourselves…we still have our flesh and as Paul says in Romans 8:7 and 8, it is hostile to God, it cannot submit to God and it cannot please God. Kenneth Wuest in his Word Studies from the Greek New Testament expresses it this way, “This fear is a self distrust…it is vigilance against temptation…it is taking heed lest we fall…it is the caution which timidly shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the Saviour.” As Wuest does, I connect this verse to Paul’s advice in I Cor 10:12 “…let anyone who thinks that he stand take heed lest he fall.”

So What Replaces Fear? (45 seconds)

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We have talked about how as believers God will never again punish us for our sins. NEVER! If God does, then Jesus did not absorb all our punishment. We then looked at how if punishment is eliminated in our relationship with God, then fear is gone in our relationship with God. I John 4:18 is foundational here – “…perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment…” We are loved with a perfect love and so fear is gone in our relationship with God.

So now we need to ask – does fear just disappear or does something replace it? Thankfully something replaces it…something that is the polar opposite of fear. Ephesians 2:18 tells us that through the work of Christ we now have access to the Father. But then Ephesians 3:11 amplifies on this and says “we have boldness and access with confidence…” No more hesitation, hedging, intimidation, cautiousness or fear in approaching God. That is all gone…forever! Now we come boldly into God’s presence with confidence! I am wonderfully at home with my Father!

Punishment vs. Discipline

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Last time I mentioned that God will never punish you, as a believer, for your sins. NEVER! If He does, then Jesus was not punished in your place on the cross. But He does still discipline us. So what’s the difference?

Punishment is always rooted in God’s wrath and the end is death. On the other hand, discipline is rooted in God’s love and the outcome is always for our good. Hebrews 12 is a good place to go to understand this. Hebrews 12:6 tells us that “the Lord disciplines the one he loves…” And so discipline is always an act of love toward us. Verse 10 then says that this discipline is “for our good.” How so? It goes on to say in the rest of verse 10 and then in verse 11 – “that we may share his holiness” and experience “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Verse 12 adds that He disciplines us so that “what is lame may…be healed.”

God never motivates us to obey by the fear of punishment. Love does not punish.

If I was engaged in sin and wanted to turn from it and bring it into the light – but knew that doing so was the beginning of punishment, I would likely continue in sin. At least sin promises pleasure – even if it doesn’t deliver. Punishment never promises pleasure.

Next – if punishment is gone, so is fear.