The fear of the Lord causes us to discipline and restrain our tongues so that we are careful about what we say and how much we speak (Prov. 10:19; Eccl 5:2, 6-7; Matt 12:36). It protects us from the defilement of our consciences and the breakdown of our moral resolve. The fear of the Lord is pure and cleansing (Ps 19:9), holy and redeeming in its effect.

(6) The fear of the Lord causes us to serve God with a sober single-mindedness that enables us by faith to enter into God’s promises (2Cor 7:1; Heb 4:1; 11:7).

(7) Finally, the fear of the Lord is accompanied by assurance and unspeakable spiritual comfort for God’s people. The NT directly links the fear of the Lord with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31). On the one hand, those who live without fearing the Lord have no promise of His presence, favour and protection (see Deut 1:26); on the other hand, those who fear God and obey Him from the heart experience spiritual security in their lives and the enabling grace and power of the Holy Spirit. They can be sure that God will “deliver their soul from death” (Ps 33:18-19). The person who fears God need not fear anything else; but the person who does not fear God is vulnerable to fearing everything else.

We Are Saved To Serve God
God said to Moses: “When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain,” (Ex 3:12). Ephesians 2:10 asserts: “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

We become Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. While no action or work, we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit, but to serve Christ and build up the church (4:12); in (Eph 2:10), we are God’s workmanship (work of art, masterpiece).

Our salvation is something only God can do. It is his powerful, creative work in us. If God considers us for his works of art, we dare not treat ourselves or others with disrespect or as inferior work.

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