1908 28 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 Cor. 5, in full view of all the perils of death which daily confronted him, does not hesitate to say "We are always confident" (2 Cor. 5:6), and to repeat it, We are confident." Nor was this a solitary instance. For on that voyage where "no small tempest lay on" them (2 Cor. 5:8), 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 27:23-25).
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" (Eph. 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 Heb. 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" (Phil. 1:6). And as regards ourselves, "we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (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 3:3).
We learn, however, from 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 (1 Peter 1:17).
We find how this worked with the apostle Paul. In 1 Cor. 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 Heb. 11:34. Again, we find in 2 Cor. 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 66:2).
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" (Eph. 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 (Phil. 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 Ps. 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 Heb. 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 28:28), and which through grace we have believingly heard and received. W.N.T.
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There is no fear when it is a question of God's love. "Perfect love casteth out fear, for fear hath torment; he that feareth is not perfected in love." And the love of God has been manifested "to us," that it may also be perfected "in us," as, further, it is perfected on our behalf," so that we have boldness in the day of judgment.