Fear and Trembling

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 12
Where it is a question of the word of God, or the work of the Lord Jesus, the believer is entitled to have the fullest confidence. Thus the apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5, in full view of all the perils of death which daily confronted him, does not hesitate to say “We are always confident” (ver. 6), and to repeat it, “We are confident.” Nor was this a solitary instance. For on that voyage where “no small tempest lay on” them (ver. 8), and which ended in shipwreck, we find the same apostle, when relating the visit to him and saying of an angel of God, thus quietly speaking of himself, “Whose I am and whom I serve,” and no wonder! for he adds, “I believe God” (Acts 27:23-2523For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. (Acts 27:23‑25)).
Then, if the believer thinks of the enjoyment of the divine presence now, it is “in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” (Ephesians 3:1212In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3:12)). Whilst God's word is our authority for this boldness and confidence, the work of the Lord Jesus is equally our ground for it, as we read in Hebrews 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19), “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.”
Further, if one has reason to believe that the Holy Ghost has begun a work in any soul, it is no presumption to say, “being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:66Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6)). And as regards ourselves, “we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:1414We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1 John 3:14)), a proof in its place that we have been born “of the Spirit,” for by nature we were children of wrath, “hateful and hating one another” (Titus 3:33For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (Titus 3:3)).
We learn, however, from 1 Peter 1:18, 1918Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19), that whilst we “know” we are “redeemed... with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” the very fact of our calling on the Father (who judges each man's work without respect of persons) is urged as a reason why we should pass the time of our sojourning in fear (ver. 17).
We find how this worked with the apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 2:33And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (1 Corinthians 2:3) he recalls to the saints at Corinth how he had been with them “in weakness and in fear, and in much trembling,” as their state was so carnal, and there was the flesh in him (that unimprovable enemy which we have to carry with us to the end of the journey), and he knew how easily it could answer to his surroundings. It was no light thing to him to “declare the testimony of God,” “to know nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified,” and to have his speech and his preaching only “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” Doubtless, his weakness, fear, and much trembling led to his being “out of weakness made strong,” as he says of others in Hebrews 11:3434Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Hebrews 11:34). Again, we find in 2 Corinthians 7:1616I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. (2 Corinthians 7:16), in regard to these very same saints to whom the apostle had had to write so strongly in the matter of discipline, that he says, “I rejoice that I have confidence in you in all things.” Why? Because that Titus, whom he had sent to them to see how his First Epistle had wrought among them, had returned refreshed in spirit, and with increased affections towards them as he remembered the obedience of them all, how “with fear and trembling” ye received him. Blessed fruit of the Spirit indeed is this, when the saints' ways are in question, for He who of old charges His angels with folly, says, “To this [man] will I look, [even to him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:22For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)).
Servants, in relation to their masters according to the flesh, are exhorted to be obedient to them “with fear and trembling” in singleness of your heart as unto Christ, so that while the work, however menial, can be done to such a master, it is not to be done carelessly, but the reverse, yea, “as servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:55Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; (Ephesians 6:5)). How blessed will be the “good thing” they “shall receive of the Lord” by and by who serve in this way, and with what interest will He repay it.
Then we are all exhorted (Philippians 2:1212Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12))—not to work for, but—to “work out (what is distinctly ours) your own salvation.” Nothing can be clearer; but how is it to be done? “With fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” And shall we not fear and tremble lest we give a wrong impression of Him? If we do, we shall be sustained, for there is a lovely paradox in Psalm 145:1414The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. (Psalm 145:14), where it is written, “The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all that be bowed down.” The Lord grant us, then, this grace of “fear and trembling.” In Hebrews 12:26-2826Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:26‑28) we are told that not only earth is to be shaken, but also heaven, and that it signifies “the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.” The last is what the believer has, even “a kingdom which cannot be moved.” The shaking is therefore to him a “promise” (ver. 26). But what effect should this have on him as regards his ways or service? Beautifully enough here-not trembling (that is left out), but-he is “to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire.” May we have grace to remember it, and so to do; whilst we rejoice in that salvation of God which has been sent to the Gentiles (Acts 28:2828Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Acts 28:28)), and which through grace we have believingly heard and received. W. N. T.