Multitudes spend their lives under the bondage of continual fear.
People do fear that which they ought not, and don't fear that which they ought.
The Scriptures repeatedly exhort us to fear God alone.
The fear (phobos) that Peter writes of in this verse is not merely fear towards God (cf. 2:17), but a fear that extends to the whole life, directing behaviour, and instilling an attitude of holy sobriety, solemnity, reverence, vigilance and carefulness (Philippians 2:12).
When we understand the nature of this fear, we realise there is no contradiction between "great rejoicing" in God (v.6), and our holy fear of God – the two actually go together: "Happy is the man that feareth alway" (Proverbs 28:14).
The overriding thought in vv.13-25 is a call to believers for a pure and holy conversation in the world, and a vital aspect of a holy life is a godly fear in the heart.
Consider three reasons we are exhorted to godly fear:
I. BECAUSE OF OUR FILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD (17) II. BECAUSE OF OUR FLEETING RESIDENCE IN THIS WORLD (17) III. BECAUSE OF OUR FULL REDEMPTION BY THE BLOOD (18-19)
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